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COMBATS 


AND 


CONQUESTS 


OF 


Immortal  Heroes 


SUNG  IN  SONG 

AND 

TOLD  IN  STORY 


BY 


CHARLES  MERRITT  BARNES. 


COPYRIGHT     1910    BY    CHAS.    MERRITT    BARNES 


SAN  ANTONIO,    TEXAS 
GUESSAZ    &  FKRLET  COM  TAN  \ 
1910. 


■^iiPt 


•yf&cM/nuf 


The    Author 


DEDICATION 


I   dedicate   this   tome  to   those 

Who   helped   me   in   my   need. 
Through    them,  to   gain,  my    quest   arose; 

They   made    success   my    meed. 

Their  Hfting  grasp — their   gracious   guise — 

Their  words  of  hope  and  cheer, 
Whilst    struggling    hard,    urg'd    me    to    rise 

From    strife    and    stress    severe. 

Their  helpful  hands  gave  stintless  aid — 
Their   hearts   were    tried    and   true; 

To  them  my  offering,   this,   is  made, 
Alas!      they  were  so  few. 

— The   Author. 


COLONEL     OSCAR    C      GUESSAZ  ST  A  NISH- AME  KIC  AN     WAR    VETERAN.         MAGXIFICENT     MARKSMAN. 

MEMBER     OF     TEXAS     RIFLE     TEAM.        PUBLISHER     OF     THIS     BOOK. 


PREFACE. 


Within  you'll  find  but  simple  words 
Reciting    myths    and    facts; 

No  precepts  grim  from  fogy  schools, 
Nor   maxims   out   of   tracts. 


Here's  no  pretense  of  flaunting  lore 
Claim 'd   sagely   long   acquired. 

Nor  do  I  hold  my  verse  doth  soar, 
Nor   that    I    am   inspired. 


My  thoughts  I   wrote  to  try  to  cheer 
Some  trouble  stricken  mind — 

To  chase  from  it  some  ache  severe 
And    leave    some    balm    behind. 


If    I    can    touch    some    tender    spot — 
Cause    pulses    there    to    thrill 

In    bosoms    that    have    long    forgot 
An   ecstasy   to   feel — 


If    I    can    check    from    eye    some    tear 
Ere    it    to    cheek    may    fall, 

Then    I    will    bless    my    lowly    lot 
And    deem    it    best    of    all. 


Then  when  I'm  dead,    'round  where  I   sleep 
May   shrubs   spring,    bud   and   bloom 

And  scent  the  air  with  fragrance  rare 
Around    my    lowly    tomb. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


CHAPTER  I 

Prominent  in  populace,  exalted  in  commerce,  matchless 
in  climate,  superior  in  scenic  splendor,  richest  in  romance 
and   sublimest  in   song  and   story  is   she,    city    of    countless 


>  DOW    OK    HAl'l  ISl  KY.     Ml 


J.-Sli. 


entrancing  and  enchanting  surprises,  superb  San  Antonio. 
World-wide  is  her  heroes'  renown.  Equally  extensive  her 
history.  These  lend  lustre  to  terrestrial  annals.  Their's  were 
deeds  immortalizing  inimitable  actors,  whose  achievements 
perpetuated  their  own  glor\'  and  the  scene  sanctified  by  their 
perpetration 


83»;51 


8 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


Her  Alamo,  hallowed  shrine!  where  a  Nation  and  Liberty 
were  born,  both  springing  forth  with  the  flow  of  mart3'rs'  blood, 
was,  and  will  ever  be,  if  permitted  to  stand,  that  Mecca  to  which 
many  millions  have  and  will  continue  to  come,  from  all  lands 
and  everv  clime  to  worship  chivalry  unequaled  and  never  to  be 
surpassed. 

Sunny  Spain  sent  her  chivalrous  cavaliers.  They  came  in 
Cortez'  wake.  Far-off  France  furnished  founders  from  among 
her  chevaliers  who   followed   La   Salle.     Both   bands,   though 


ORIGINAI,     MORESQUE     DOMED    BUILDING    FORMING     REAR     OP    SAN     FERNANDO     CATHEDRAL 
ON      MILITARY      PLAZA.       IT     IS     INTACT      TODAY. 

bent  on  conquest,  came  under  the  guise  of  civilizers.  And 
thev  builded  better  than  they  knew,  did  those  doughty  Dons 
of  Spain  and  fastidious  flocks  from  France.  Far  beyond  their 
ken  was  the  meed  of  their  coming.  Civilization  found  fruition 
which  supplanted  the  carnage  they  created.  It  even  over- 
rode and  superceded  the  still  greater  and  more  sanguinary 
struggle  against  the  insatiable  tyrant,  Santa  Anna,  and  his 
heartless  horde. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


9 


Tradition,  probabl}-  well  founded,  accredits  Alonzo  de 
Leon,  kinsman  of  Ponce,  the  searcher  for  that  ignis  fatuus 
the  "fountain  of  youth,"  with  having  camped  in  this  vicinity 
in  1670,  when  on  May  15th,  he  is  said  to  have  taken  formal 
possession  of  the  country  in  the  name  of  the  then  king  of  S])ain. 
He  is  likewise  given  credit  for  the  very  first  mission  established 
and  called  San  Fernando  de  Tejas.  Its  organization  is  said 
to  have  been  effected  with  great  ceremony. 


OLD    ESI'ADA    MISSION" 


Don  Domingo  de  Tarran  de  los  Reyes,  who  was  the  first 
governor  of  Coahuila,  came  here  in  August,  1691.  He  was 
the  next  to  follow  after  the  relative  of  the  seeker  of  the  per- 
ennial fount.  He  is  said  to  have  changed  the  rame  of  the  Mis- 
sion from  San  Fernando  de  Tejas  to  San  Francisco  de  Espada. 
He  is  also  said  to  have  explored  the  country  eastward  as  far 
as  the  Red  River,  but  he  abandoned  the  Mission  there  in  1693. 

But  it  was  old  Don  Jose  Domingo  de  Ramon,  a  grandee 
of  Spain,  the  emissary  of  her  king,  who  planted  the  first  and 
the  permanent  settlement  here.     He   re-established   the   aban- 


10         Combats  andn  Co  quests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

doned  Mission,  locating  it  at  the  head  springs  of  the  San  Pedro. 
He  called  it  the  Mission  de  San  Antonio  de  Valero.  At  the  same 
time  he  established  the  Presidio,  or  fort  of  San  Antonio,  declar- 
ing it  his  monarch's  capital  in  this  country.  The  dominion 
he  named  the  Province  de  Be  jar,  or  Bexar.  While  the  last 
word    was    spelled    Bexar,    it    was    pronounced    Bear. 


MISSION    CONCEPCION    PURISSIMA    DE    AUNO,    TWO    MILES    BELOW    SAN    ANTONIO       IN    FRONT     OF 
WHICH    AMERICANS    UNDER    BOWIE    DEFEATED    A    LARGE    MEXICAN    FORCE. 

Little  thought  they,  when  they  stuck  their  spears  and  staffs 
supporting  their  standards  into  the  earth,  about  the  pearly 
founts  of  San  Pedro's  pellucid  springs,  that  they  were  avant 
couriers  of  such  a  civilization  as  some  centuries  since  has 
succeeded  them. 

With  the  august  and  austere  Ramon  rode  a  train  of 
Conquestadores  clad  in  mail.  Their  quest  was  gold  and  ad- 
venture. Cowled  and  frccked  friars  of  the  Franciscan  house 
rode  with  Ramon.  One  w^hom  the\'  called  the  Hidalgo  de 
Margil,   was  their  leader*  and   most   ])ious  of  their  order. 


FLAT  ARCHED  PORTAL  OP  PALACE  OF  ANTONIO  CORDERO.  ONE  OF  THE  OLD  SPANISH  GOVEH- 
.VORS  WHO  WAS  BEHEADED  ON  MILITARY  PLAZA.  THE  KEYSTONE  OF  THIS  ARCH  SHOWS 
THE  BLENDED  COATS  OF  ARMS  OF  SPAIN  AND  AUSTRIA.  THE  RINO  SET  IN  THE  WALL  AM) 
rSRD      FOR    HITCHINT,     THE    HORSES    OF    OCCUPANTS    IS    STILL    THERE. 


12 


Combats  and  Coxouests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


Two  years  later  the  party  of  Ramon  and  Margil,  who  had 
located  at  San  Pedro  Sprirgs,  was  reinforced  by  the  arrival  of  a 
larger  one  headed  by  the  Marquis  de  Aguayo.  It  came  with 
the  avowed  purpose  of  founding  a  permanent  Franciscan  Mis- 
sion. It  joined  forces  with  the  first.  Together  the  parties 
of  Ramon  and  Aguayo  erected  another  and  stronger  presidio, 
or  fortress,  a  mile  or  more  below  on  the  San  Pedro.     It  was 


OLD    SAN    JOSE    MISSION,    MOST    BEAUTIFUL    IN    ARCHITECTURE    OF    ALL    THE    FOUR. 

located  where  the  Military  Plaza  of  this  city  now  stands.  They 
called  it  "la  Plaza  de  las  i\rmas,"  or  the  Plaza  of  Arms.  Its 
martial  title-  still  obtains.  The  stream  ran  through  its  western 
extremity,  furnishing  water  for  the  force  congregated  within 
its  citadel. 

The  troops  garrisoning  it  were  lodged  in  barracks  ranged 
along  its  northern  sides.  Its  civil  authorities  occupied  the 
western  and  its  ecclesiastics  the  eastern  side  of  the  citadel,  the 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Im.mortal  Heroes  13 

southern  one  being  given  over  to  occupancy  b}'  such  savages 
as  the  priests  succeeded  in    civilizing,  and  con\^erting. 

All  of  the  structures  were  single-storied,  except  the  church 
edifice.  All  were  of  adobe,  or  mud-bricks,  or  mortar  of  lime 
and  mud  packed  into  the  interstices  of  palings  of  cypress,  Cot- 
tonwood or  mesquite.  All  were  aligned  along  the  four  sides 
of  the  parallelogram.  It  was  surrounded  by  a  stout  stockade 
formed  of  a  wooden  wall,  perfectly  perpendicular.  Piercing 
this,  at  intervals,  were  loopholes  enabling  its  defenders  to  fire 
upon  any  foes  who  might  attack  or  endeavor  to  invade  it. 

Such  arrangement  was  indispensible,  for  the  barbarous 
natives  were  ever  ready  to  valiantly  fight  all  who  sought  a 
footing  in  their  territory.  Hostilities  had  commenced  almost 
immediately  with  the  advent  of  the  Spanish  adventurers.  Indians 
had  attacked  the  Spaniards'  first  fort  at  San  Pedro  Springs, 
where  the  Aborigines  had  hitherto  enjoyed  indisputed  posses- 
sion of  its  freely  flowing  fluid.  They  illy  brooked  its  acquisition 
by  their  Spanish  adversaries  and  bravely  battled  in  defense 
of  their  prior   title. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  aborigines  had  forced  their 
paler  visaged  and  armor  clad  enemies  to  retreat.  Even  at 
the  advent  of  de  Aguayo's  force,  the  Indians  had  Ramon  and 
his  force  at  ba}^  It  is  not  unlikely,  but  for  this  timeh^  succor 
all  of  them  would  have  been  slain.  Thus  it  was  that  both  Ra- 
mon and  his  colleagues  were  compelled  to  relinquish  their  first 
fortress  and  give  back  its  immediate  environment  to  those  sav- 
ages who  had  sternly  striven  for  its  defense.  So  it  was  that  the 
Spaniards  set  up  their  standards  at  their  new  post  at  the  Plaza 
de    las    Armas. 

Not  until  the  Spaniards  had  completed,  lull}'  equii:)ped 
and  thoroughly  strengthened  their  presidio  at  the  Plaza,  did 
the  friars  of  St.  Francis  undertake  their  missionary  work 
among  the  Indians  and  the  erection  of  their  missions. 

The  first  of  these  was  the  one  of  undying  fame,  the  Ala- 
mo. It  was  in  1718  they  commenced  it.  Next  they  built  the 
Mission   Concepcion   Purrissima   de   Acuna,    on    the   banks   of 


14    Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

the  San  Antonio  river  two  miles  below.  It  was  in  1720  that 
they  erected  the  most  beautiful  of  all  their  missions,  that 
poem  of  architecture,  the  Mission  San  Jose,  now  but  a  classic 
ruin,  four  miles  farther  down  and  a  half  a  mile  from  the  stream. 

Its  sculpture  and  carving  are  unexcelled.  Most  of  its 
statuary  has  either  been  stolen  or  battered  and  broken  by 
vandals  and  relic  hunters.  Its  carvings  have  either  been  ef- 
faced or  eradicated  in  many  places  by  such  ruthless  and  impious 
iconoclasts.  One  of  its  windows  is  yet  left  almost  intact. 
This  is  famous  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful  fenestral  speci- 
men of  architecture  in  all  America. 

Next,  and  but  a  few  years  later,  w^as  built  the  Mission  de 
San  Juan  de  Capistran,  which  is  on  the  bank  of  the  river  at 
Berg's  Mill,  seven  miles  below  the  city  of  San  Antonio. 

The  last,  or  Mission  Espada,  or  of  the  Sword,  which  was 
built  in  1730,  is  located  a  mile  down  and  half  a  mile  west  of 
this  same  river. 

When  all  of  these  had  been  completed,  the  colony  having 
been  meanwhile,  from  time  to  time,  strengthened  with  more 
recruits  and  Conquestadores  from  Spain,  the  church,  now 
San  Fernando  Cathedral,  was  reared.  It  did  not,  however, 
become  a  cathedral  for  some  centuries  later.  There  was  no 
Catholic  or  other  bishop  here  for  many  years.  The  parish 
priests  and  their  assistants  cared  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of 
their  flocks  of  faithful  and  taught  the  savages  of  the  settlement 
to  work  as  well  as  to  pray  in  the  fertile  valleys  along  the  ser- 
pentine streams  coursing  through  them.  These  padres,  with 
the  aid  of  their  Indian  converts,  builded  all  their  missions 
and  churches.  And  so  it  was  that  those  Friars  in  frocks  and 
capped  with  cowls,  and  those  Dons  encased  in  coats  of  mail, 
builded  here  even  better  than  they  knew  or  even  recked,  alt- 
though  they  builded  by  proxy  through  the  aegis  of  the  abor- 
igines. And  those  w^ho  came  after  them  found  the  gold  the 
first  comers  vainly  sought.  They  delved  it  from  the  bosom 
of  the  fertile  soil  upon  which  they  freely  poured  the  pearly 
waters  of  the  unfailing  streams.     It  was  their  tilling  and  toil- 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


15 


ing  that  grew  the  golden  harvest.  Even  thus  was  it  that  there 
was  sown  the  seeds  and  sprung  the  source  from  which  grew 
such  a  si3lendid  city  and  section,  now  the  greatest  of  this  grand- 
est state  in  the  entire  galaxy  of  a  peerless  nation's  sisterhood 
of  unsurpassed  states. 


CHAPTER  II 

SAN      ANTONIO'S    SANGUINARY     STRUGGLES.         MILAM's      VALIANT 
ATTACK    AND    GLORIOUS    DEATH 

Sanguinary  struggles  have  succeeded  each  other  in  rapid 
sequence  ever  since  San  Antonio  was  first  settled  in  1670  until 


OLD    CUT    OF    VERAMEN'Dr    BUILDING    SHOWING    ITS    DOUBLE    DOORS. 

the  Spanish  American  war.  of  recent  occurrence,  when  the 
doughty  and  dauntless  Theodore  Roosevelt  led  his  Rough  Rid- 
ing rancheros  out  of  here  and  to  fame  up  San  Juan  Hill. 

First  the  French  and  the  Spanish  fought  for  possession  of 
the  province,  when  not  fighting  with  the  aborigines,  against 
whom  both  were  almost  constantly  engaged.  After  the  char- 
ter was  issued  to  the  presidio  and  province  by  Ferdinand  III. 
of  Spain  and  Austria,  from  1670  to  1733  there  were  almost  con- 
tinuous   contests    between    Indians    and    Spaniards. 


16 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


In  1776,  the  same  year  that  witnessed  the  birth  of  the 
United  States  nation,  the  French,  under  La  Harpe,  here  fought 
the  Spaniards  with  alternating  success  and  defeat,  from  that 
year  and  during  the  years  following,  1812,  1813,  when  two 
battles  were  fought,  and  in  1835  and  1836  four  battles  were 
fought  between  the  sympathizers  with  the  Constitutionalistos, 
of  Mexico,  and  the  forces  of  the  then  dictator  of  Mexico. 


DOUBLE  DOORS  OF  OLD  VERAMEXDI  PALACE,  WITH  BULLET  AND  CAWON  SHOT  SCARS 
MADE  DURING  THE  CAPTURE  OF  SAN  ANTONIO  BY  BEN  MILA.Vl'S  TROOPS  WHO  BY  ASSAULT 
TOOK  THE  CITY  FROM  SANTA  ANNA'S  FAVORITE|gENERAL,  COS.  THEY  ARE  NOW  IN  THE 
POSSESSION      OF      F.      F.      COLLINS. 

San  Antonio  had  several  minor  skirmishes  to  occur  near 
it  during  the  struggle  incident  to  the  war  between  Spain  and 
Mexico  for  the  independence  of  the  latter  from  the  former 
when  the  grand  patriot  priest,  Miguel  Hidalgo,  raised  the  sa- 
cred standard  of  liberty. 

But  the  great  and  memorable,  as  well  as  the  most  sangui- 
nary of  all  the  sieges  and  struggles  of  San  Antonio, were  those 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


17 


from  1835  to  1836.  These  were  the  engagements  between  the 
Texas  forces  under  Ben  Milam  and  the  Mexicans  under  Cos, 
when  Milam's  men  wrested  the  city  from  the  grasp  of  the  dic- 
tator's myrmidons  after  Milam,  their  leader,  was  slain  in  De- 
cember, 1835.  This  was  a  most  brilliant  achievement. 
The  other  was  the  entire  extirpation  of  the  dauntless  defen- 


OLD   TUNSTALL   HOMESTEAD    WHICH    STOOD   BY  THE   FORMER  SITE   OF  THE   FAMOUS   MOLING 
BLANCO.      IT    WAS   THE   HOME    OF   MRS.    HENRY   P.    DROUGHT   WHO    LIVES   NEAR     THERE. 


ders  of  the  Alamo  by  the  overwhelming  hordes  of  the  dire 
and  dread  dictator,  Santa  Anna,  in  February  and  the  fore 
part  of  March,   1836,  when  none  were  left  to  tell  the  tale. 

Austin,  Burleson  and  several  other  Constitutionalist  offi- 
cers had  their  force  of  from  1,500  to  1,800  men  camped  near 
the  head  of  the  vSan  Antonio  river  and  along  its  banks  down 
to  where  the  old  Molino  Blanco,  or  famous  "White  Mill"  stood, 
this  mill  at  that  time  being  the  headquarters  of  the  comman- 
ders, the  time  being  the  winter  of  1835.     There  the  force  had 


r-'' 
* 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


19 


been  encamped  for  some  months,  inactive,  and  its  members 
eating  their  hearts  out  enduring  suspense.  In  the  meantime, 
Santa  Anna's  favorite  general,  de  Cos,  with  from  5,000  to 
6,000  picked  troops,  the  flower  of  the  Mexican  army,  held  San 


JAMES      BOWIE,     WHO      WEDDED     GOVERNOR      VERAMENDl'S      DAUGHTER.        HE      WAS 
SLAIN    IN    THE    ALAMO.       WAS    THE    INVE.VTOR    OF    THE    BOWIE    KNIFE 


Antonio,  defying  Burleson  and  Austin  and  their  small,  brave, 
but  infinitesimal  fragment. 

Austin  became  so  much  disgruntled  that  he  retired,  leav- 
ing Burleson  in  command.  Burleson  believed  retreat  advis- 
able.    He  was  preparing  to  retire  his  forces  from  the  reach  of 


20 


Combats  axd  Coxouests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


possible  attack  by  de  Cos.  Most  of  Burleson's  soldiers  were 
averse  to  retreat.  In  it  the}*  saw  hardships  worse  than  hos- 
tilities. 

Among  them  rose  up  the  peerless  soldier,  Ben  Milam.  He 
delivered  an  impassioned  appeal  to  them.  Only  such  an  one 
as  a  hero  could  make.  .  It  concluded  with  his  question: 


BEN  R.  MILAM,  WHO  CAPTURED  SAN"  ANTOXIO  FROM  THE 
MEXICANS  AND  WAS  KILLED  IN  FRONT  OF  THE  VERAMENDI 
PALACE  BY  THE  SHOT  OF  A  SHARPSHOOTER  JUST  AS  HE 
HAD      ACHIEVED      HIS      BRILLIANT     VICTORY. 

"Who  will  follow  old  Ben  Milam  into  San  Antonio?" 
He  was  going  there  even  if  he  had  to  go  there  alone. 
But  the  majority  of  the  men  shouted  eagerly  their  determina- 
tion to  join  him.  Deaf  Smith  shouted  loudest.  Maverick  and  John 
W.  Smith  had  slipped  out  of  San  Antonio  shortly  before,  bring- 
ing full  information  of  the  disposition  of  de  Cos'  forces  and 
other    important    information.     They    volunteered    to    guide 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Im\:ortal  Heroes  21 

Milam  and  his  men  into  the  place.  Maverick  also  urged  them 
to  go. 

Milam  and  his  men  marched  in,  surprising  the  Mexicans. 
But  the  Mexicans  fought  like  demons.  i\fterwards  Burleson,  with 
several  of  his  officers  and  a  handfull  of  soldiers  who  had  re- 
mained behind  a  few  hours,  came  up  just  when  the  fight  was 
the  thickest.  Milam  had  divided  his  soldiers  into  three  forces. 
One  came  down  on  the  east  side  of  the  San  Antonio  river  to  en- 
gage the  Mexicans  then  garrisoning  the  Alamo.  The  other 
two  came  west  of  the  San  Antonio  river,  one  along  Flores 
Street.  The  other,  headed  by  Milam  and  guided  by  Maverick, 
came  down  Soledad  street. 

Every  step  of  the  advance  was  stubbornly  resisted.  Mi- 
lam's soldiers  had  to  tunnel  and  burrow  from  house  to  house. 
It  took  them  two  days  to  reach  the  Garza  house  on  Veramendi 
Street,  a  short  block  from  the  first  headquarters  of  Cos.  When 
they  reached  there,  Cos  prudently  moved  his  headquarters 
across  the  San  Antonio  river  adjoining  the  ford  of  the  stream 
at  Garden  Street.  The  historic  house  adjoins  the  electric  pow- 
er plant  on  the  east.  It  was  there  that  Cos  spent  several  days 
receiving  reports  from  his  officers.  When  a  sharp-shooter 
picked  off  Milam  and  the  noble  hero  fell  into  the  arms  of  Mav- 
erick, he  was  so  quickly  taken  into  the  Veramendi,  where 
the  tragedy  occurred,  that  few  of  Milam's  own  soldiers  knew  of 
his  death  and  none  of  the  Mexicans,  least  of  all  Cos,  heard  of 
it  until  after  the  Mexican  commander  had  capitulated.  In 
yielding,  Cos  was  accorded  most  liberal  terms  of  surrender 
being  permitted  to  march  his  arm}'  out  of  the  city  with  their 
arms   and  munitions  of  war. 

Milam  was  buried  before  the  shouts  of  victory  were  heard, 
but  he  knew  the  Mexicans  were  wavering  and  felt,  even  in 
death,  that  his  cause  and  troops  would  triumph,  as  they  did. 

Ruthless  is  the  hand  of  commercialism.  Utterly  re- 
lentless is  its  iconoclasm.  Naught  from  it  can  escape.  No 
shrine,  whether  of  Faith  or  Valor,  to  it  is  sacred  nor  from  it 
secure.     One  of  the  most  venerable  and  historic  of  structures 


22        Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lmmortal  Heroes 

in  San  Antonio  has  fallen.  Soon  another,  most  sacred  of 
all  may  succumb  unless  patriots  rally  to  its  rescue.  The  one 
which  has  been  effaced  is  the  Venerable  Veramendi  Palace, 
where  dwelt  and  ruled  those  who  governed  San  Antonio  and 
the  Province  of  Bexar;  where  brave  Bowie  wooed  and  won 
his  blushing  bride,  where  matchless  Milam  battled  and  died; 
where  romance  and  chivalry  were  so  strikingly  strong  as  to 
be  made  immortal  in  song  and  story — naught  is  left  but  their 
memory.  Veramendi 's  palace  was  where  James  Bowie  wooed 
and  won  Ursulla,  the  queenly  and  beautiful  daughter  of  Don 
Juan  Martin  de  Veramendi,  the  then  dominant  governor. 
There  this  twain  was  wed  and  but  a  few,  all  too  brief  moons 
before  the  bride  was  widowed ,  the  groom  slain  in  the  Alamo 
with  his  companions.  Bowie's  bride  won  over  her  austere 
sire  to  the  cause  of  her  patriot  lover.  Thus  Veramendi  lost 
his  sway  over  San  Antonio.  He  was  removed  by  Santa  Anna 
and  with  his  daughter,  Ursulla,  exiled  to  Coahuila,  where  both 
soon  after  perished  of  a  then  prevailing  pestilence. 

It  was  at  Veramendi's  Palace  that,  soon  after  his  question 
ever  echoing  down  the  corridors  of  time:  "Who  will  follow 
Old  Ben  Milam  into  San  Antonio?"  that  Milam,  Hke  Marco 
Bozzaris,  died  in  its  portal  just  as  the  shouts  of  his  comrades 
acclaimed  their  victory  by  which  his  men  vanquished  the 
formidable   force    of   Cos,    Santa   Anna's   favorite    emissary. 

The  hoary  walls  that  so  bravely  bore  the  brunt  of  battle 
have  been  obliterated.  The  double  doors  so  scarred  and 
shattered  by  shot  and  shell,  during  the  same  siege  and  that 
swung  for  centuries  on  pivots  where  they  were  placed  by  the 
hand  of  the  master  artisan,  Manuel  Cabrera,  who  fashioned 
them,   will  now  swing  there  no  more  forever. 

Veramendi's  Palace  was  where  to  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy's Commissioners,  Thomas  D.  L.  Devine,  Samuel  A. 
Maverick  Sr.  and  Luckett,  the  United  States  Commander, 
General  Twiggs,  surrendered  Federal  authority.  This  was 
the  last  great  historic  episode  enacted  in  this  citadel  which 
stood  sentinel  and  kept  ward  over  the  destiny  of  the  Pro- 
vince  de   Bejar  and  the  city  of  San  Antonio. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


23 


There  in  all  their  pomp  and  punctilio  was  held  the  functions 
of  the  dons  and  grandees  of  Spain  and  Mexico.  There  flir- 
tations, fandangoes,  intrigue,  the  duello  amid  dancing  and 
revelry  prevailed.  There  conquests  of  hearts  and  courts 
were  carried  on.  The  last  prominent  family  that  resided 
there  before  it  was  given  over  to  commercial  uses,  was  that 
of  the  Lockmars  and  the  Angles,  illustrious  ones  of  early 
days,  whose  scions  still  dwell  in  San  Antonio. 


OLD  STO.N'E  FORT,  FORMERLY  .\  T  NACOGDOCHES 


Reminiscence  and  romance  still  are  exhaled  by  its  environ- 
ment, although  every  evidence  of  its  former  existence  has  been 
effaced.  The  echoes  of  commands  uttered  by  august  rulers 
seemed  pent  up  in  the  old  walls  that  have  been  demolished. 
While  they  stood,  from  the  casements  of  its  windows  there 
seemed  to  come  back  the  whispers  of  coy  maidens  and  their 
sighs  as  they  sat  awaiting  the  tardy  coming  of  loitering  lovers. 
Sounds  of  lute  strings  long  mute,  seemed  to  be  wafted  again 
through  those  self  same  windows.     Soft  breezes  stirring  among 


24 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


the  shrubs  and  fluttering  through  the  embrazures,  seemed  to 
bring  back  the  vows  of  swains  long  since  silent  and  dead. 
Flowers  in  the  patio  nodding  with  the  stir  of  the  zephyrs 
seemed  to  mock  the  vows  long  since  pledged,  broken  and  for- 


gotten. 


SAIXT.    ST.    AXTHOXY 


Ravishingly  sweet  was  the  fragrance  of  the  shrubs  and 
the  flowers  that  grew  in  the  garden  of  the  Veramendi.  Their 
incense  filled  the  chambers  of  the  palace,  vicing  with  the  subtle 
incense  from  the   censors   swung  in  the   spacious   one   where 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        25 

pious  padres  performed  the  nuptial  rites  for  the  brides  and  the 
grooms  that  were  mated  there. 

Ere  its  fall,  passing  throngs  almost  expected  to  see  stately 
shaped  spectres,  figures  of  former  tenantry,  step  forth  from 
arches  and  remote  recesses.  But  none  stepped  forth  to  chide 
the  thoughtless  troupe  that  tore  away  this  once  magnificent  ed- 
ifice, so  majestic  and  so  venerable.  And  so  Vale  el  Vera- 
mendi.     Alas  soon  may  we  have  to  say:  Adios  el  Alamo. 

The  latter  is  the  next  and  the  most  sacred  of  shrines  threat- 
ened with  demolition.  Women  were  given  its  custody.  As 
customary  they  have  quarreled.  Some  of  the  same  sisterhood 
who  loudest  shouted  and  sweetest  sang  their  slogan:  "Save 
the  Alamo"  but  several  short  seasons  since,  now,  to  spite  the 
faction  differing  with  them  and  desiring  to  preserve  it  from 
destruction,  are  as  strongly  bent  on  destroying  and  ut- 
terly obliterating  it  as  the  tyrant  Santa  Anna  was  determined 
to  thoroughly  annihilate  its  brave  defenders,  whose  only 
monument    the    Alamo    group    now    is. 

But  let  us  still  hope  the  sacred  pile  may  be  saved  and 
stand.  Its  destruction  would  be  a  blot  on  the  fair  name  of 
the  city,  the  state  and  the  nation  that  would  be  so  supine 
as  to  permit  it.  Let  it  be  taken  from  the  custody  of  warring 
women.  Place  it  in  the  hands  of  men  sworn  to  restore  it  to 
the  same  contour  and  condition  as  when  the  combat  commenced 
there  that  made  it  memorable.  That  won  for  its  defenders 
immortal  fame.  That  made  San  Antonio  the  Mecca  of  many 
millions  who  have  come  thither  to  worship  at  a  shrine  of  such 
chivalry.  This  grand  pile  has  been  the  cause  that  has  made 
San  Antonio  such  a  splendid  city.  It  has  brought  her  not  only 
renown,  but  untold  wealth  and  to  our  state  a  vast  and  con- 
tinuous concourse.  If  any  part  of  the  venerable  pile  be  permit- 
ted to  be  destroyed,  possibly  a  Sampsonian  fate  may  await 
those  who  wantonly  destroy  such  a  peerless  place  and  pile. 
Let  the  state,  the  nation  if  not  the  city,  truly  save  the  Alamo. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes         27 
CHAPTER   III 

DAUNTLESS     DEFENSE     AND      DREADFUL      DESTRUCTION     OF     THE 

immortal     ALAMO 

The  story  of  the  Alamo  is  written  in  blood.  That  blood 
was  the  life  current  of  nearly  200  martyrs.  It  was  the  sacri- 
fice offered  upon  the  sacred  shrine  of  liberty.  There  are  more 
than  a  million  who  have  made  San  Antonio  their  Mecca.  They 
came  to  pay  their  tribute  to  the  heroes  who  fell  and  were  glori- 
fied there.  Of  these  men  of  immortal  fame  were  the  brave 
Bowie  and  Bonham,  the  courageous  Crokett,  the  undaunted 
Travis  and  their  handful  of  unfaltering  followers.  Their  exact 
number  was  one  hundred  and  seventy  nine. 

They  made  their  most  memorable  struggle  against  the  over- 
whelming odds  of  more  than  six  thousand  trained  Mexican 
troops.  The  latter  were  led  and  directed  by  the  dictator,  Santa 
Anna.  He  commenced  the  siege  of  the  Constitutionalists 
in  the  Alamo  on  Wednesday  morning  February  22,  1836.  Santa 
Anna  then  sent  a  messenger  to  the  commander,  Lieutenant 
Colonel  William  Barrett  Travis,  demanding  the  immediate 
and  unconditional  surrender  of  the  Alamo,  informing  Travis 
that  all  who  did  not  surrender  would  be  put  to  the  sword. 
Santa  Anna  offered  an  armistice  of  6  hours  for  the  surrender 
and  withdrawal  of  non-combatants.  Travis  disdained  the  offer. 
His  answer  was  a  well  directed  cannon  shot  from  the  piece 
of  ordnance  that  Travis  in  person  was  commanding  on  the  top 
of  the  Convent  portion  of  the  Alamo.  His  followers  on  the 
top  of  the  Chapel  adjoining  it  at  once  nailed  the  flag  of  the 
Constitution  of  1824  to  the  staff  so  that  it  could  not  be  low- 
ered. 

Travis  made  an  unheeded  appeal  to  Houston  and  Fannin 
for  succor.  Fannin  could  not  give  heed,  for  his  force  was  then 
surrounded  by  UgarthcBea  at  Goliadj  where  it  was  annihilated 
a  few  days  after  capture.  Had  he  been  inclined  to  do  so, 
Houston  was  too  far  away  to  reach  and  rescue  the  Alamo's 


Combats  and  Conouests^of  T^imortal  Heroes 


29 


beleaguered.  Houston  believed  ^  that  Travis  and  his  futile 
force  should  have  retreated  before  the  overwhelming  horde 
of  Santa  Anna. 

Houston,  himself,  had  fallen  back  with  his  own  army  beyond 
the  Colorado  river  and  had  even  gone  beyond  the  San  Jacinto 
before     making     his     stand    against    Santa    Anna.     It    was 
there  that  Houston  had  halted  and  achieved  his  valiant  victory, 


DON    ANTONIO    LOPEZ    DE    SANTA    ANNA,    MEXICAN    DICTATOR    AND    BARBAROUS    BUTCHER 


Utterly  routing  and  scattering  in  wild  flight  the  flower  of  his 
foeman's  army  or  causing  most  of  them  to  surrender. 

But  this  was  after  Travis  and  his  heroic  comrades  had  all 
gone  down  to  death  and  doom  on  March  6,  announcing  they 
would  neither  surrender  nor  retreat.  In  the  name  of  "Liberty 
and  Patriotism  and  everything  dear  to  the  American  character" 
Travis  called  for  aid  and  re-inforcements,  announcing  if  his 
call  was  unanswered,  he  and  his  small  force  had  determined  to 


30    Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

sustain  Santa  Anna's  attack  as  long  as  possible.  Travis'  words 
were:  'We  will  die  like  soldiers  who  do  not  forget  their  honor 
nor  that  of  their  Country,"  concluding  with  the  exclamation: 
"Victory   or  Death." 

Out  in  bold  relief  stands  the  story  of  the  struggle  that 
followed  these  words.     It  is  emblazoned  on  histoty's  pages  so 


DAVID  CROCKETT,  ONE  OF  THE  ALAMO  S  PRINCIPAL  HEROES.  HE 
FELL  DEAD  ACROSS  THE  BODIES  OF  EIGHT  OF  HIS  ANTAGONISTS 
WHOM   HE   SLEW   WITH   HIS   CLUBBED  RIFLE  AFTER    EXHAUSTING  HIS 

AMMUNITION. 

it  will  never  be  obliterated.  Such  was  the  expression  and 
spirit  of  valor  animating  these  unterrified  Texans.  Mortal 
man  never  endured  such  terrible  strife  nor  engaged  in  such  san- 
guinary battle.  Almost  without  cessation,  it  lasted  for  eleven 
days.  Not  one  of  the  male  garrison,  except  several  small 
children,  escaped  after  the  struggle  had  commenced.  Several 
women  were   among  the   garrison.     One   of  them  during  the 


': ' .  ;lr^  .J^4  lW3 


M  (>■' 


^  >': 


32 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


siege,  Mrs.  Dickinson,  wife  of  Lieutenant  Dickinson,  of  the 
United  States  army,  became  a  mother,  giving  birth  to  the 
famous  child  known  as  the  "Babe  of  the  Alamo."  During  all 
of  these  eleven  days  those  brave  women  gave  ministration  to 
the    sick    and   wounded. 


DON'     ENRIQUE    ESPARZA      WHO    SAYS    HE    WAS    IN'    THE     ALAMO     DURING     ITS      SIEGEJAND 
FALL,    ITS    ONLY    SURVIVOR.         HE    LIVES    ON    NOGALITOS    STREET. 

In  l)oth  Convent  and  Chapel  the  battle  waged  fiercely. 
Both  were  equally  involved  in  the  hostilities.  The  Convent 
had  been  the  barracks,  but  when  the  siege  began  its  armed 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


33 


defense  was  as  active  as  that  of  the  Chapel  and  as  many  if  not 
more  were  slain  in  the  Convent  than  in  the  Chapel,  and  yet 
there  are  those  in  San  Antonio  who  would  have  this  portion 
of  the  sacred  structure  destroyed  to  aid  a  realty  scheme.  Such 
action  would  be  a  blot  on  the  city's  and  nation's  names. 

Chapel  and  Convent  were  connected  by  a  huge  portal  and 
several  smaller  apertures.  In  the  Chapel,  sick  almost  unto 
death,  Bowie  lay  on  a  cot,  prone  and  unable  to  rise.     Travis, 


LEO    COTTEX'S    SKETCH    OF    BURNING    OF    BODIES   OF   THOSE    SLAIN'    IN    THE    ALAMO. 

with  his  sword  drew  a  line  across  the  space  in  front  of  where  his 
force  had  been  assembled  to  hear  his  commands.  To  his  men 
Travis   said : 

"All  who  wish   to  leave,   stand   in   their  ])laccs.     All  who 
wish  to  remain  and  fii^ht  to  the  end  cross  over  this  Vine  and 


34        Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

come  to  me."  All  but  one  crossed  over  to  him.  Bowie  had 
his  cot  lifted  and  brought  over.  Rose  was  the  only  man  who 
did  not  cross  that  line.  He  had  fought  for  ten  da3^s  as  bravely 
as  any  of  the  others,  but  weakened  on  the  eleventh.  It  was 
Daw  Crockett  who  said  to  him:  "Stay  with  us,  Rose.  You've 
got  to  die  some  time,  you  might  just  as  well  die  with  us." 
Crockett  did  not  speak  in  anger.  It  was  he  who  during  the 
night  lifted  Rose  up  and  helped  him  out  of  one  of  the  windows. 
Rose  was  never  heard  of  after.  Probably  he  perished  miserably, 
butchered  before  he  had  gone  many  yards  from  the  shadow  of 
the  structure  in  which  his  comrades  remained.  No  one  knows 
his  fate,  or  if  so,  it  has  never  been  told.  Far  better  for  Rose 
would  it  have  been  had  he  remained  and  participated  in  the 
martyrdom  of  his  brave  companions,  fighting  to  the  last  as 
chivalrously    as    at   first. 

Far  different  was  the  act  of  Esparza,  father  of  the  boy, 
Enrique,  who  with  his  family  was  lifted  into  the  self-same  w4ndow 
out  of  which  Rose  went.  Esparza  came  into  this  window 
after  the  hostilities  began.  The  carnage  was  terrible.  Blood 
ran  in  rivers  where  the  slain  and  wounded  fell.  From  the  flat 
roof  of  the  Convent,  Travis  continued  to  direct  the  fire  of  his 
cannon.  Bonham  commanded  the  cannon  on  the  top  of  the 
Chapel.  Crockett  stood  holding  command  at  the  double  doors 
of  the  Chapel.  While  directing  their  deadly  effective  fire, 
both  Bonham  and  Travis  fell  dead  across  their  cannon.  Both 
died  just  as  the  last  of  their  ammunition  was  spent.  Their's  were 
the  last  shots  fired  by  the  Texans  in  their  artillery  duel  with 
the  invading  host.  Crockett  many  times  emptied  his  unerring 
rifle  and  death-dealing  pistols.  At  last,  when  all  of  his  powder 
was  burned,  he  clubbed  his  rifle.  With  its  butt  he,  to  the  last 
breath  he  drew,  dealt  death  to  his  enemies.  Finally  he,  too,  fell, 
when  transfixed  by  the  thrust  of  a  bayonet.  When  he  fell  it  was 
on  top  of  a  heap  of  foes  he  had  slain.  Brave  Bow4e  met  death  on 
his  cot.  Drawing  himself  up  to  a  sitting  posture  with  his  back 
braced  against  the  wall  he  emptied  his  pistols  as  often  as  he 
could  until  the  foemen  rushed  upon  him.     Then  he  drew  his 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


35 


36        Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

famous  knife,  afterward  bearing  his  name  and  fashioned  from  a 
file.  He  plunged  it  into  the  hearts  of  those  who  rushed  upon 
him.  At  last,  he  too  died,  riddled  by  the  bullets  of  a  blunder- 
buss, or  escopeta,  fired  by  one  of  Santa  Anna's  soldiers.  This 
shot  was  fired  over  the  shoulder  of  the  last  man  Bowie  killed 
and  just  as  the  knife  blade  had  been  driven  home  by  that  hero. 

All  of  the  men  died  fighting.  Even  the  boys  fought.  One, 
a  lad  of  but  sixteen,  w^as  bravest  of  them  all,  for  he  fought  after 
his  weapons  w^ere  useless.  He  died  throttling  an  antagonist, 
not  relaxing  his  grasp  on  the  latter 's  throat  even  when  death 
seized  the  boy.  He  and  his  foe  died  together.  When  those 
who  separated  the  Texans  from  the  Mexicans  before  burning 
the  bodies  of  the  former,  came  to  sunder  this  pair,  they  had  to 
tear  the  boy's  hands  from  the  throat  of  his  combatant. 

Weapons  of  every  available  kind  were  used  b}'  the  defend- 
ers of  the  Alamo.  Rifles,  pistols,  knives,  axes,  beams  and 
clubs,  all  were  used,  as  well  as  artillery.  And  all  the  defenders 
were  slain,  save  some  few^  of  feminine  sex,  and  several  small 
children.  After  all  had  died,  mercilessly  their  adversaries 
fired  volley  after  volley  into  their  prostrate  and  lifeless  forms. 
Even  in  death  the  Texans  were  feared  by  their  foes.  From 
such  coigns  of  vantage  as  they  could  the  Mexicans  fired  until 
long  after  they  were  convinced  the  Texans  were  all  dead. 

All  the  w^omen  and  children  had  been  huddled  together 
and  driven  into  a  corner  of  the  Chapel.  This  was  the  only  act 
of  mercy  shown.  Then  rudely  the  women  and  children  were 
dragged  out,  through  the  smoke  and  after  no  male  Texans  were 
left   alive. 

When  the  slaughter  was  done,  Santa  Anna  was  confronted 
with  the  problem  of  disposing  of  the  dead.  Utter  annihilation 
was  the  fate  he  gave  the  defenders  of  the  Alamo.  He  directed 
the  Alcalde,  Ruiz,  to  have  built  tw^o  immense  wooden  pyres. 
These  were  located  on  what  was  then  known  as  the  Alameda,  or 
Cottonwood  grove  roadway.  It  is  now  a  wide  portion  of  East 
Commerce  street.  The  northeast  end  of  one  of  these  pyres 
extended  into  the  eastern  portion  of  the  front  yard  of  what  is  now 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes   37 

the  Ludlow  House.  The  other  pyre  was  in  what  is  now  the  A^ard 
of  Dr.  Ferdinand  Herff  Sr.'s  old  Post,  or  Springfield  House.  I 
have  had  both  pyres'  positions  positively  located  by  those  who 
saw  the  corpses   of  the  slain  placed  there. 

I  have  failed  to  find  someone  who  would  mark  these  spots 
with  a  monument.  I  have  longed  for  the  means  to  do  so  mv- 
self.  The  Alamo  is  their  only  monument  and  there  are  those 
who,  even  now%  w^ould  tear  it  down.  On  those  two  pyres  at 
these  places  the  bodies  of  the  brave  Texans  were  placed.  Alter- 
nate layers  of  men  and  wood  w^ere  laid.  Then  grease  and  oil 
was  poured  over  the  pyres.  Finally  torches  w^ere  applied.  It 
took  two  days  to  consume  the  corpses  of  the  noble  dead.  At  the 
end  of  this  time  but  a  few^  skulls  and  charred  limbs  w^ere  left. 
These  lay  exposed  for  several  days  in  the  sun  until  a  small  pit 
was  dug  in  w^hat  is  now  the  east  of  the  Ludlow  front  yard  where 
they  were  buried.  Ere  this  the  wind  had  dispersed  the  ashes  of 
the  others  and  cast  the  result  of  the  holocaust  over  the  quarters 
of  the  earth. 

Pablo  Diaz,  now^  living  in  San  Antonio,  then  a  boy  of  13 
years,  saw  the  bodies  burning.  So  did  Enrique  Esparza,  also 
still  living  and  who  claims  to  have  been  with  his  father  and 
mother  in  the  Alamo.  Diaz'  brother,  who  was  one  of  Santa 
Anna's  soldiers,  also  saw  the  burning  of  the  bodies  there. 

But  the  disposal  of  the  bodies  of  Santa  Anna's  men  was 
another  problem.  More  than  half  of  them  are  said  to  have 
been  slain  by  the  gallant  Texans.  Their  sur\'ivirg  comrades 
and  the  town  authorities  had  no  time  to  dig  graves  for  them, 
so  most  of  them  were  cast  into  the  then  swiftl}'  flowing  current 
of  the  San  Antonio  river  where  Crockett  street  bridge  now 
spans  that  stream.  Many  of  the  corpses  floated  off  miles  below, 
but  the  balance  lodged  against  the  banks,  or  obstructions  and 
choked  up  the  river,  which  for  several  days  flowed  blood  as  well 
as  water.  Huge  vultures  flocked  along  the  stream,  or  hovered 
over  it  and  blackened  the  sky.  They  swarmed  and  swooped 
down,  devouring  the  decomposed  and  defiling  objects,  whose 
stench  was  so  permeating,  it  is  said  to  have  made  even  the 
hardened  Santa  Anna,  himself,  sick. 


38 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


Such  was  the  story  of  the  siege,  storming  and  succumbirg 
of  the  Alamo.  Nothing  like  it  is  revealed  by  history. 
Neither  the  gallant  charge  of  Balacklava's  Six  Hundred,  nor 
the  struggle  at  Thermopols's  Pass,  the  rout  at  Waterloo, 
the  battles  of  Lucknow,  Cremona,  Plevna  nor  Manassas,  compare 
with  it,  for  some  were  left  from  all  of  them  to  tell  the  tale.  "Ther- 
mopolae  had  her  messenger  of  defeat;  the  Alamo  had  none." 
Nor  had  even  any  other  conflict  such  carnage  or  such  courage 
to  crown  its  heroes.  There  never  was,  before,  nor  will  there 
be   ever  again,   such   chivalry. 


OLD  BAPTISMAL  FOUNT  FORMERLY  IN  USE  AT  ALAMO  CHAPEL 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes  39 


CHAPTER  V 

the    history    of    the    old    SPANISH    MISSION    OF    SAN    ANTONIO 

DE    VALERO,    KNOWN    AS    THE    ALAMO,     CHRONICLED    IN 

THE    RECORD    OF    THE    CATHOLIC    CHURCH    AND 

BY      OTHER      EQUALLY      RELIABLE 

HISTORIANS. 

Since  the  very  persons  who  should  be  the  last  to  do  it 
any  damage  are  threatening  with  destruction  the  sacred  pile 
of  masonry  known  as  the  old  Alamo,  or  Spanish  Mission  of 
San  Antonio  de  Valero,  which  the  faction  of  women  known 
as  a  branch  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Texas  Revolution  by 
official  resolution  seek  to  destroy,  a  history  of  this  pile  of 
edifices  may  prove  interesting  and  possibly  serve  to  avert 
such  wanton   and   vandal   desecration   and   destruction. 

This  mission,  as  previously  mentioned  in  another  portion 
of  this  book,  was  first  located  at  the  headwaters  and  beside 
the  springs  forming  the  source  of  the  San  Pedro  Creek  some 
two  miles  northwest  of  its  present  location,  about  1690,  by 
Franciscan  friars,  whose  object  was  the  conversion  of  the 
aboriginal  inhabitants  and  bring  them  under  civilization  so  as  to 
utilize  the  labor  of  the  proposed  converts  in  tilling  the  product- 
ive soil  and  developing  the  resources  of  the  rich  valley.  For 
a  long  time  the  Aborigines  refused  to  be  converted  and  to 
be  civilized.  Their  hostility  to  the  Spaniards  was  so  strong 
and  active  that  they  forced  the  latter  to  retire  and  abandon 
this  first  location. 

In  1718  the  location  on  which  it  was  again  built  is  its 
present  one  on  the  north  and  northwest  sides  of  Alamo  Plaza. 
A  copy  of  the  official  report  relative  to  this  mission  in  the 
documents  of  the  Catholic  church  and  the  archives  of  the 
Mexican  government,  which  was  published  in  a  work  in  the 
Spanish  language  entitled  "La  Historia  de  la  Provincia  de 
Tejas"  in  folios  Nos.  163  to  167  inclusive,  the  following  trans- 
lation furnishes  a  description  of  this  mission  San  Antonio 
De  Valero  at  its  present  location.  This  document  bears 
date   of    1762    and   is   authentic     It   follows: 

"In  this  province,  (Bejar,  or  Bexar,)  are  some  beautiful 
springs.  So  great  is  their  volume  that  they  send  out  within 
a  short  distance  a  considerable  river  which  they  form. 
This  stream  is  called  San  Antonio.     It  runs  from  North  to 


40 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


South.  West  of  it  one  league  and  one  league  below  the  spring 
is  the  town  of  San  Fernando  and  the  presidio  of  San  Antonio. 
Across  the  river  on  its  Eastern  bank  and  about  2  gun-shots 
from  the  presidio,  is  the  Mission  of  San  Antonio  de  Valero. 


MRS.    SARAH    RIDDLE    EAGER.        FIRST    AMERICAN    GIRL    BORM    IX     SAN    ANTONIO. 
PRESENT     CUSTODIAN      OP      THE      CHAPEL      OF      THE      ALAMO. 


This  mission  was  founded  on  the  First  of  May  1718  by  order 
of  the  most  excellent  Marquis  de  Valero.  It  was  the  first 
college  of  the  Holy  Cross  that  in  its  zeal  for  the  salvation 
of  the  natives  was  planted  in  the  province  of  Texas. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


41 


"The  records  show  that  since  its  formation  and  up  to 
this  date,  (1762),  that  seventeen  hundred  and  ninety-two 
persons  have  been  baptised  here.  At  present  there  are  seventy- 
six  families  here,  which,  counting  widows,  orphans  and  other 
children,   comprise  two   hundred  and  seventy-five  persons. 

"The  settlement  contains  a  convent,  or  monastery,  fifty 
yards  square  with  arcades  above  and  below.  In  the  monastery 
are  the  living  rooms  of  the  religious,  the  porters'  lodge,  the 


CATHOLIC    BISHOP    J.    C.    NERAZ 


dining  room,  kitchen  and  the  office.  All  of  these  rooms  are 
adorned  with  sacred  ornaments  and  furnished  with  such  arti- 
cles as  are  needed  by  the  religious,  for  their  own  use  and  for 
supplying  the  Indians. 

"In  the  second  court  is  a  large  room;   large  enough  for 
four  looms.     Upon  these  looms  are  made  the  fabrics  of  cotton 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


43 


and  wool  needed  to  supply  and  properly  clothe  the  Indians. 
Adjoining  this  room  are  two  others,  in  which  is  kept  the  stocks 
of  cotton  and  wool,  combs,  skeins,  spindles,  cards  and  other 
things  used  in  making  their  clothing. 

"The  church  of  this  mission  was  finished,  even  to  the 
towers  and  sacristy,  but,  on  account  of  the  stupidity  of  the 
builder,   it  tumbled  down.     Another  of  pleasing  architecture 


CATHOLIC    BISHOP    JOHN    M.    ODIN. 


is  being  now  constructed  of  hewn  stones.  For  the  present  a 
room,  which  was  built  as  a  granary,  is  serving  as  a  church. 
In  it  are  an  altar  with  wooden  table  and  steps,  a  niche  con- 
taining a  sculptured  image  of  Christ  crucified,  St.  Anthony 
and  St.  John.  All  of  these  are  dressed  in  robes,  undergarments 
and    silken   vestments. 


44        Combats  and  Coxouests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

"A  big  room  is  used  as  a  sacristy.  In  it  are  kept  the  large 
boxes  that  contain  the  ornaments.  Among  these  are  three 
covered  chaHces,  two  large  cups  for  communion  vessels,  a 
silken  case  for  the  cross,  a  vessel  and  a  sprinkler  for  holy  water, 
two  candle-sticks,  an  immense  boat  and  a  spoon,  a  censor 
and  three  holy  vials.     All  of  these  are  made  of  silver. 

"The  mission  has  a  well  built  stone  chapel  eleven  yards 
long.  Among  its  ornaments  is  a  stone  cross  two  yards  high 
and  capped  with  silver.  In  the  cross  are  hidden  the  relinqueries, 
four  in  number  and  each  containing  its  own  relic.  The  altar 
is  adorned  with  carved  and  painted  images. 

"There  are  seven  rows  of  houses  for  dwellings  for  the 
Indians.  These  are  made  of  stone  and  supplied  with  doors 
and  windows.  They  are  furnished  with  high  beds,  chests, 
metates,  pots,  flat  earthen  pans,  kettles,  cauldrons  and  boilers, 
With  their  arched  porticoes,  the  houses  form  a  beautiful  plaza, 
through  which  runs  a  canal  skirted  with  willows  and  by  fruit 
trees  and  used  by  the  Indians.  To  insure  a  supply  of  water 
in  case  of  blockade  by  an  enemy,  a  curbed  well  has  been  made. 

"For  the  defense  of  the  settlement  the  plaza  is  surrounded 
by  a  wall.  Over  the  gate  is  a  large  tower  within  whose  em- 
brasures are  three  cannons,  some  fire  arms  and  other  appropriate 
supplies  for  warfare. 

"For  cultivating  the  fields  of  corn,  chile,  and  beans,  that 
are  tilled  to  feed  the  Indians  and  other  inmates  and  of  the 
cotton  to  clothe  them,  there  are  fifty  pairs  of  cart  oxen,  thirty 
of  which  are  driven  in  yoke.  There  are  also  traces,  plough- 
shares, fifty  axes,  forty  pick-axes,  twenty-two  crow  bars, 
and  twenty-five  sickles.  For  hauling  wood,  stone  and  other 
things  there  are  twelve  carts.  For  carpentering  they  have 
the  ordinary  tools,  such  as  adzes,  chisels,  planes,  picks,  ham- 
mers, saws,  and  plummets.  For  use  in  repairing  implements 
they  have  an  anvil,  tongs,  a  screw,  mallets,  files  and  other 
things  connected  with  a  large  forge. 

"In  this  large  room  where  the  grain  is  kept  there  are  at 
present,  (A.  D.  1762,)  about  eighteen  hundred  bushels  of 
corn  and  some  beans.     These  supplies  are  to  feed  the  Indians. 

"This  mission  owns  a  ranch  upon  which  is  a  stone  house 
about  twenty  yards  long.  It  has  an  arched  portico,  and  is 
divided  into  three  rooms.  These  are  occupied  by  the  families 
that  care  for  the  stock,  which  consists  of  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  head  of  cattle,  two  thousand  and  three  hundred  head 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        45 

of  sheep  and  goats,  and  two  hundred  head  of  mares,  fifteen 
jennets  and  eighteen  saddle  mules. 

"The  mission  and  ranch  have  the  necessary  corrals.  For 
the  irrigation  of  the  fields  there  is  a  fine  main  aquaduct." 

In  his  history  on  pages  18  to  21  Pennybacker  mentions 
this  document  and  so  does  Garrison  on  pages  55  to  60,  and 
Baker  and  Bolton  quote  it  in  their  "Makers  of  Texas"  on 
pages  61  to  66,  so  there  should  be  no  doubt  of  its  authenticity 
or  truth.  The  original  manuscript  is  on  file  in  the  archives 
of  the  Department  of  Fomento  in  the  city  of  Mexico  in  the 
Federal  District  and  from  which  this  is  copied  and  translated. 

This  mission  remained  in  the  custody  and  under  the 
management  of  the  Catholic  church  until  the  Mexican  govern- 
ment in  1835  turned  out  the  religious  inmates  and  other  oc- 
cupants and  converted  it  into  a  garrison  for  the  defense  of 
the  East  side  of  the  San  Antonio-San  Fernando  settlement, 
then  threatened  by  the  Texas  Constitutional  forces  under 
Austin  and  Burleson.  It  was  named  by  the  Mexican  soldiers 
when  Milam's  men  took  San  Antonio  from  Cos'  forces  and  its 
garrison  capitulated  at  that  time,  December  7,  1835.  Then  it 
was  occufjied  by  the  victorious  Americans  who  held  it  for 
nearly  a  year  and  a  half.  When  Santa  Anna's  force  marched 
on  San  Antonio  the  American,  or  Texan  force  abandoned 
other  military  locations  and  fortifications  and  took  up  their 
final    defense    there. 

The  defense  was  planned  and  the  ordnance  placed  under 
the  direction  of  a  kinsman  of  mine,  my  grandmother's  first 
cousin,  Green  B.  Jemison,  who  perished  in  the  monastery 
building,  described  in  the  records  quoted,  as  did  the  chief 
in  command.  Lieutenant  Colonel  William  Barrett  Travis 
who  died  directing  the  fire  of  the  cannon  beside  which  he  stood 
and  mounted  on  the  top  and  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
flat  roof  of  this  monastery,  or  convent  structure,  that  those 
"Daughters"  now  want  torn  down  and  which  but  a  few  short 
years  ago  they  sought  to  rescue  from  commercialism  when 
they  sounded  the  slogan  anew:     "vSave  the  Alamo." 

This  building  was  the  main  fortification  on  and  within 
which  the  Alamo's  defenders  fought.  In,  upon,  and  in  front 
and  beside  it  more  of  the  force  under  Travis  were  killed  than 
in  any  other  portion  of  the  premises.  But  a  very  few  were 
left  alive  when  the  last  stand  was  made  in  the  old  chapel 
joining   the    monastry    on    the    south. 


46        Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

The  church  was  used  as  the  powder  magazine.  The 
only  prominent  person  connected  with  the  combat  slain  there 
probably  was  Bowie,  who  is  said  to  have  died  there  on  a  cot. 

The  appearance  of  the  pile  at  the  time  of  the  commence- 
ment of  this  most  memorable  conflict  is  accurately  deleniated 
in  the  painting  by  Theodore  Gentil,  the  eminent  French  artist. 
It  had  never  been  questioned  until  these  warring  women  fell 
out  and  this  faction  sought  to  destroy  what  the  other  as  well 
as  all  true  patriots  wish  to  save.  The  exact  appearance  of 
the  pile  after  the  combat  is  shown  by  the  picture  by  Beckman 
and  particularly  the  delapidation  of  the  old  church  by  the 
official  drawings  made  for  the  United  States  government  by 
Captain  Hughes  of  the  United  States  army,  which  are  on  file 
in  the  archives  of  the  United  States  government  at  W  ashington 
and  in  those  of  the  state  of  Texas  and  which  I  have  had  photo- 
graphed. These  show  the  old  church,  which  is  the  most  modern 
portion  of  the  pile,  to  have  been  much  more  battered  than 
the  monastery  during  the  siege  and  that  the  old  church  edifice 
was  more  of  a  ruin  than  the  monastery,  or  convent. 

In  the  exact  condition  that  all  of  the  pile  was  left  after 
this  most  memorable  combat  the  entire  group  remained  until 
the  United  States  Government  leased  the  entire  aggregation 
from  the  Catholic  church  at  the  end  of  the  Mexican  W  ar,  there 
having  been  in  the  interim  a  suit  between  the  church  and  the 
city  of  San  Antonio  which  suit  was  decided  in  favor  of  the 
church  and  the  then  Bishop  Odin  rented  it  to  the  Government 
when  the  church,  as  well  as  the  monastery  was  repaired  and 
restored  as  nearly  as  then  possible  to  their  former  contours 
and  conditions,  the  original  material  forming  their  respective 
walls  being  used  for  the  restoration  and  repair.  According 
to  an  official  report  of  the  United  States  government.  Major 
Babbitt,  of  the  U.  S.  Quartermaster's  Department,  expended 
the  sum  of  $5,800  for  repairing  and  restoring  the  entire  group 
of  buildings  forming  the  Alamo,  the  church  as  well  as  the 
monastery  in  1849.  There  is  no  gainsaying  this  record.  It 
is  an  official  government  document,  the  money  having  been 
expended  by  an  act  of  Congress  appropriating  it  for  that  purpose. 

After    this    restoration    the    United    States    government 
occupied  the  entire  group  as  a  quartermasters'  and  commissary, 
depot  and  there  stored  and  from  them  shipped  supplies  to 
its  troops  throughout  the  frontier  from  1849  up  to  1861. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        47 

During  1861  there  was  a  fire  in  the  old  church  caused 
by  some  boys,  now  very  prominent  personages  in  San  Antonio. 
These  boys  were  smoking  cigarettes  and  set  fire  to  some  loose 
straw  used  for  packing  goods.  This  burning  straw  soon 
communicated  its  flames  to  the  inflammable  goods  of  the 
government,  bacon,  lard  and  other  articles  and  the  entire 
interior  of  the  old  church  was  burned.  It  then  had  a  wooden 
roof  which  burned  and  fell  in.  The  entire  building  had  to  be 
repaired.  A  portion  of  the  top  of  the  west  or  front  wall  fell 
to  the  ground  and  it  had  to  be  entirely  rebuilt.  There  was 
much  less  of  the  church  building  then  left  than  the  adjoining 
monastery  so  that  most  of  the  present  church,  now  tin-roofed 
and  originally  flat  adobe  crowned,  is  very  modern  and  only 
dates   from    1861. 

When  General  Twiggs  as  U.  S.  military  commander  sur- 
rendered the  city  of  San  Antonio  and  all  of  the  supplies  of  the 
army  to  the  Confederate  commissioners  Devine,  Luckett  and 
Maverick  at  the  historic  old  Veramendi,  the  group  of  buildings 
known  as  the  Alamo  and  their  contents,  except  such  portion 
of  the  latter  as  were  reserv^ed  for  the  use  of  the  United  States 
soldiers  by  the  terms  of  capitulation,  were  delivered  to  the 
Confederacy.  William  H.  Edgar,  who  was  the  quartermaster 
sergeant  of  the  United  States  in  charge  of  the  Alamo  property 
and  contents  then  cast  his  fortune  with  the  Confederacy  and 
was  continued  as  custodian  until  he  organized  an  artillery  com- 
mand  and  went  with   it  to  the   front. 

When  the  Civil  War  ended  the  cluster  of  the  Alamo  was 
surrendered  back  to  the  United  States.  This  government 
remained  in  possession  until  1876  when  it  built  the  present 
quartermasters'  depot  on  Government  Hill  at  Ft.  Sam  Houston 
and  then  moved  its  stores  to  the  latter  location. 

Between  the  time  of  the  destruction  of  the  church  by 
fire  and  its  repair  in  1861  temporary  arrangements  were  made 
for  the  storing  of  government  goods  in  a  building  standing 
where  the  Maverick  Hotel  now  stands,  in  what  was  then  used 
as  a  quartermasters'  corral.  The  government  also  occupied 
property  of  the  Maverick's  on  the  north  side  of  Houston  Street 
extending  from  Navarro  Street  to  Avenue  D,  for  many  years, 
for  military  purposes,  it  adjoining  the  old  government  barracks 
which  stood  on  the  square  now  occupied  by  the  new  Gunter 
Hotel,    leasing   them   from   the   Vance   brothers. 

The  first  restoration  of  the  Alamo  property  in  1849  was 
done  by  John  Fries,  father  of  San  Antonio's  present  city  clerk. 


48        Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

The  second  was  in  1861,  when  the  church  had  to  be  rebuilt, 
was  done  by  M.  G.  Cotton,  contractor,  who,  however,  did  not 
have  to  do  anything  to  any  other  portion  of  the  cluster. 

In  1872  the  old  granary  running  entirely  across  the  plaza 
was  condemned  and  purchased  by  the  city  of  San  Antonio 
and  destroyed,  a  market  house  being  built  immediately  south 
of  where  it  stood.  For  some  time  after  it  was  aquired  by  the 
city,  the  granary  structure  was  used  as  a  police  station  and 
calaboose  for  the  east  side  of  town.  It  was  through  the  eastern 
portion  of  this  structure  that  the  troops  of  Santa  Anna  made 
their  first  breech  and  entered  the  enclosure  of  the  Alamo  Mission. 

Honore  Grenet,  in  the  70 "s  purchased  the  monastery 
portion  of  the  pile  from  the  Catholic  church  and  also  leased 
the  church  part,  moving  his  store  that  stood  where  the  new 
Odd  Fellows  building  is  now  located  to  the  Alamo.  With- 
out disturbing  the  walls,  Grenet  above  them  placed  some 
woodwork,  since  removed,  and  made  to  resemble  a  fort,  there 
being  wooden  cannon  protruding  through  the  turrets.  Grenet 
also  built  a  portico  about  the  south  and  west  sides  of  that 
structure. 

After  his  death  the  monastery  was  sold  by  his  executor 
and  administrator,  Joseph  E.  Dwyer,  to  the  firm  of  Hugo  & 
Schmeltzer,  the  State,  meanwhile,  having  purchased  the  old 
church.  Hugo  &  Schmeltzer  tore  away  Grenet 's  imitation 
fortress,  but  left  the  walls  of  the  monastery  as  restored  in 
their  original  condition  by  Major  Babbitt,  that  building  now 
being  as  originally  except  for  its  ridged  tin  roof,  the  first  roof 
having  been 'fiat  and  of  concrete  and  adobe.  Very  recently, 
by  order  of  Mayor  Callaghan  the  porticos  on  the  South  and 
West  have  been  torn  away. 

About  five  years  ago  an  offer  was  made  to  the  Hugo- 
Schmeltzer  people  for  the  purchase  of  the  monastery  portion 
of  the  pile  by  some  Northern  persons,  wishing  to  erect  a  hotel 
there.  It  was  then  that  Miss  Adena  de  Zavalla,  Miss  Clara 
Driscoll  and  some  of  the  other  members  of  the  Daughters  of 
the  Texas  Revolution,  resolved  to  purchase  that  portion  of 
the  Alamo  and  interested  the  then  entire  organization  in  the 
matter.  Miss  Driscoll,  now  Mrs.  Sevier,  put  up  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  purchase  money.  An  appeal  to  "Save  the 
Alamo"  was  made  to  the  patriotic  people  of  the  state  and 
considerable,  but  not  enough  cash  was  then  obtained.  The 
State,  through  the  legislature,  was  then  induced  to  make  the 


CO.MBATS    AXD    COXOUESTS    OF    ImMOKTAL    HeROES  49 

necessary  appropriation  for  the  purchase  of  this  monastery 
portion  of  the  Alamo.  Then  and  always  before  it  was  called 
a  part  and  the  principal  part  of  the  Alamo.  But  the  sup- 
posed patriotic  sisterhood,  as  women  have  ever  done,  disagreed 
among  themselves.  A  portion  of  them  went  into  litigation 
with  the  other  faction.  One  faction  at  its  last  annual  con- 
vention adopted  a  resolution  deciding  on  the  destruction  of 
the  monastery,  or  principal  part  of  the  Alamo.  They  even 
went  so  far  as  to  ask  permission  of  the  Governor  to  permit 
them  to  demolish  it.  Very  properly  he  refused  their  request, 
but  these  women  are  still  bent  on  destroying  the  Alamo. 
Unless  the  legislature  takes  the  property  out  of  their  hands, 
they  will  do  so  by  means  of  one  subterfuge  or  another.  All 
of  the  Alamo  property  should  be  taken  away  from  them  and 
placed  in  the  hands  of  a  commission  of  men  charged  with 
the  duty  of  restoring  it  all  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  exact 
condition  and  contour  that  characterized  it  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  combat  between  the  contending  forces  of  Travis 
and  Santa  Anna.  After  having  been  so  restored  it  should  be 
perpetually   kept   in   such   condition. 

The  church  portion  should  be  used  as  a  museum  for  the 
preservation  of  relics  of  Texas  history.  The  upper  portion  of 
the  monastery  should  be  used  as  a  hall  of  fame  for  the  portraits 
of  the  illustrious  men  and  women  of  the  Texas  Republic  and 
Lone  Star  State  and  as  a  meeting  place  for  true  patriotic 
organizations.  The  lower  portion  of  the  manastery  should 
be  used  as  an  armory  for  an  organization  of  the  militia  at 
San  Antonio.  There  now  is  none  such  there  for  the  very 
reason  that  it  is  impossible  to  secure  a  suitable  place  for  an 
armory.  Soon  there  would  be,  if  this  vacant  structure  were 
given  use  of  for  such   proper  purpose. 

The  very  appropriation  act  passed  by  the  Legislature 
providing  for  the  purchase  of  the  monastery  and  its  care  and 
preservation  declares  it  to  be  a  portion  of  the  Alamo  Mission 
This  is  the  caption  of  that  law:  S.  H.  B.  Xo.  1  An  Act  to 
provide  for  the  purchase  and  conveyance  to  the  State  of  Texas 
of  the  land  in  the  City  of  San  Antonio  known  as  the  Hugo  eK: 
Schmeltzer  Company  property  which  was  a  part  of  the  Alamo 
Mission  and  for  the  Cake  axd  Preservation  of  said  Propi-:rtv 
and  of  the  Alamo  Church  pro]3erty  now  owned  by  the  State, 
and  appropriating  the  sum  of  Sixty-five  Thousand  Dollars 
($65, ()()())   to   carry  out   the   ]M-ovisions   of   this  Act.      "Surely 


50        Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

the  state  did  not  appropriate  this  sum  for  the  purpose  of  having 
this  property  torn  down  when  it  says  specifically  and  distinctly 
as  well  as  unequivocally  that  it  was  for  the  purpose  of  preserv- 
ing   it. 

Section  3  of  the  law  of  which  the  above  is  the  caption 
reads  as  follows:  Upon  receipt  of  the  title  to  said  land,  the 
Governor  shall  deliver  to  the  Custody  and  "Care"  only,  and 
not  the  title,  of  this  property  thus  acquired  and  the  Alamo 
Church,  to  the  Daughters  of  the  Republic  of  Texas  to  be  main- 
tained by  them  in  good  order  and  repair  (not  to  tear  down 
or  destroy  them,)  but  to  keep  them  in  such  good  order)  with- 
out charge  to  the  State,  as  a  sacred  memorial  to  the 
heroes  who  immolated  themselves  upon  that  hallowed 
ground.  By  the  Daughters  of  the  Republic  of  Texas  to  be 
maintained  or  remodeled  upon  plans  adopted  by  the 
Daughters  of  the  Republic  of  Texas  approved  by  the  Gover- 
nor," it  clearly  being  the  intention  that  the  remodeling  of 
the  old  monastery  was  for  the  purpose  of  removing  the 
modern  wood  work  which  has  been  done,  restoring  it  to  its 
original  contour  and  condition  as  at  the  time  of  the 
Alamo's  brave  battle  and  not  to  tear  it  down,  the  section 
concluding  with  the  provision  that  no  alterations  are  to  be 
made  in  the  more  modern  Alamo  Church. 

No  authority  whatever  has  been  given  these  women  to 
destroy  what  the  State  has  spent  $85,000,  of  which  $65,000,  is 
to  preserve  this  old  monastery,  nor  should  any  governor  ever 
sanction  their  so  doing,  especially  as  this  statute  states 
specifically  that:  "All  of  said  property  being  subject  to 
future   legislation  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Texas." 

►Section  5.  Says:  The  great  importance  to  the  people 
of  Texas  of  conserving  the  existing  monuments  of  the  heroism 
of  their  fore-fathers,  and  the  fact  that  this  property  must  be 
acquired  at  once,  if  at  all,  creates  an  emergency  and  an  im- 
perative public  necessity  for  the  suspension  of  the  constitutional 
rule  requiring  bills  to  be  read  on  three  several  days,  and  said 
rule  is  so  suspended  and  that  this  act  take  effect  and  be  in 
force  from  and  after  its  passage  and  it  is  so  enacted." 

The  law  suit  between  the  city  of  San  Antonio  and  the 
Catholic  Church  over  the  title  to  the  property  doubtless  was 
the  cause  of  preventing  any  repair  to  any  of  the  cluster  form- 
ing the  Alamo  Mission  from  the  fall  of  the  Alamo  until  this 
suit  was  settled  in  favor  of  the  Church  and  it  leased  the   clus- 


Combats  and  Conquests  of   Ialmortal   Heroes       51 

ter  to  the  United  States  for  storage  of  army  supplies  in  1849. 
Up  to  that  time,  as  stated  by  Captain  Potter  and  Raines,  in 
his  Texas  BibUography,  the  old  church  was  in  ruins,  Raines 
saying  the  old  convent  or  monastery  was  the  only  portion  of 
the  pile  preserving  its  identity. 

Raines,  after  quoting  from  the  public  documents  of  the 
Mexican  general  Juan  Jose  Andrade,  addressed  to  his  com- 
patriots in  1836,  recorded  on  pages  22  to  24,  in  Monterey,  these 
documents  relating  to  the  dismantling  of  the  Alamo  Mission 
group,  the  evacuation  of  the  City  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar, 
and  the  retreat  of  its  Mexican  garrison  out  of  Texas,  says: 

"The  present  Alamo  church  building,  repaired  and  patch- 
ed up  with  a  roof  in  1849,  for  use  as  a  depot  for  army  stores, 
utterly  obscures  the  dilapidation  wrought  by  Andrade.  Only 
the  walls  of  the  convent,  or  monastery,  retain  their  identity." 
Raines  then  calls  attention  to  the  frontispiece  in  his  book, 
of  whch  I  have  a  copy,  as  I  have  photographed  it  from  a  source 
that  clinches  the  matter.  This  is  an  official  report  that  is 
document  No.  32,  in  Volume  No.  10,  Senate  Documents  of 
the  first  session  of  the  31st  United  States  Congress.  This  re- 
report  was  made  to  Col.  J.  J.  Albert,  Chief  of  U.  S.  Topograph- 
ical Engineers  by  Captain  George  W.  Hughes,  chief  of  staff  of 
Topographical  Engineers  in  1846,  and  forwarded  by  Col.  Al- 
bert to  the  Secretary  of  War  who  in  turn  referred  it  to  Congress. 
This  document  is  entitled  "Memoir  Descriptive  of  the  March 
of  a  Division  of  the  United  States  Army  Under  the  Command 
of  Brigadier  General  John  E.  Wool,  from  San  Antonio  de  Bex- 
ar in  Texas  to  Saltillo  in  Mexico."  The  drawing  representing 
the  interior  of  the  Alamo  Church  ruins  was  made  by  Edward 
Everett,  one  of  the  topographical  engineers  accompanying  this 
expedition.  The  drawing  is  absolutely  and  unquestionably 
correct  and  there  is  no  question  about  the  document  being  an 
official  one.  This  drawing  shows  the  utter  dilapidation  of  the 
ancient  ecclesiastical  edifice  and  the  ruin  in  which  its  walls  were. 

Another  of  the  drawings  in  the  same  report  and  made 
by  the  same  draftsman  shows  the  front  of  the  church  with  its 
west  wall  so  truncated  as  to  be  far  below  the  level  of  the  south 
wall  of  the  adjoining  convent  or  monastery.  This  official  report 
and  these  two  official  drawings  must  and  do  settle  the  ques- 
tion regarding  the  comp£irative  conditions  of  the  two  portions 
of  the  pile,  the  church  and  the  convent,  in  favor  of  the  con- 
vent and  against  the  church. 


52 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


I  had  almost  omitted  to  mention  in  this  chapter  that 
while  it  was  in  use  by  the  United  States  Quartermaster's 
Department  the  old  monastery  building  was  used  as  a  Masonic 
lodge  for  many  years.  It  was  in  this  building  that  the  first 
Masonic  lodge  instituted  in  San  Antonio,  Alamo  Lodge  No.  44 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.  was  instituted.  This  fact  should  endear  this 
old  edifice  to  the  heart  of  every  Mason  not  only  in  Texas,  but 
in  the  world  and  this  craft  should  unite  in  an  effort  to  save 
it   from   destruction. 

'^  But  all  of  the  people  of  the  State  and  of  the  Nation  should 
join  hands  as  well  as  hearts  and  use  arms,  if  necessary,  to 
prevent  the  demolition  of  that  structure  whereat  Travis 
perished  with  the  greater  portion  of  his  companions. 


^i:W //-'"•' 


.y 


OLD    GRIN-DING    STONE    IN    FIRST    SAN    ANTONIO    MILL 


Combats  and    Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes       53 


SHADOWS,  SHOWERS  AND  SUNSHINE. 

Though   many   days   are   dull   and   dreary — - 
Though    many    nights    long    and    weary 
And    many    years    but    serve    to    double 
Our    heavy    loads    of    human    trouble — ■ 
Though   many  eyes   in  tear  drops   languish 
While    many    hearts    beat    full    of    anguish, 
Still  all  such  days  we  so  are  spending, 
Such  nights — such  years,  iTiust  have  their  ending, 
While    they    to    us    are    surely    sending 
Days,   nights  and  years  with  bliss  attending. 
When  those  same  eyes  shall  all  beam  brightly 
And  those  same  hearts  shall  all  beat  lightly. 
For  life  still  hath,  though  much  of  sadness, 
Some    golden    gleams    of    grateful    gladness. 
It    hath    its    days    of    mirth    and    pleasure. 
It   hath   its   nights   of   calm   and   leisure; 
Its  years,  that  bring,  in  bounteous  measure 
Their    heavy    hoards    of    harvest    treasure. 
Unless,   sometimes,   our  sun  ceased  shining, 
Whilst    veil'd    by    clouds    of    silv'ry    lining. 
Such    constant    sunshine    then,    of    our's, 
Would  kill  the  vines  that  form  our  bowers; 
While,    had    we    never    any    showers 
We'd    surely   miss   their   fruit    and   flowers. 
So   let    Fair    Hope  •  each   morn   awake   us 
And    never    let    her    hand    forsake    us. 
Let  cares  and  tears  but  serve  to  make  us 
Prize    more    those    joys    that    overtake    us. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Hkroes        55 
STORY   OF   SAN   JACINTO 

SUITABLE    SEQUEL   TO  THE   ALAMO'S    SAD   SANGUINARY  STRUGGLE. 
SANTA  ANNA  AND  HIS   MYRMIDONS  MEET  WITH  UTTER  ROUT. 

Fitting  was  the  finale  and  suitable  the  sequel  at  San  Jacinto, 
to  the  sad,  sanguinary  struggle  so  futile  at  the  Alamo  in  San 
Antonio  and  the  brutal  butchery  at  Goliad.  Inseparably 
linked  to  them  was  the  story  of  San  Jacinto.  Its  events  occurred 
soon  after  the  Alamo  had  fallen  at  San  Antonio  and  Fannin 
and  his  faithful  force,  having  surrendered  at  Goliad  under 
regularly  signed  terms  of  capitulation  subscribed  by  Fannin 
and  his  Mexican  adversary,  Urrca.  On  March  17,  1835,  Fannin's 
command  capitulated.  On  March  21,  they  were  led  out  and 
murdered,  notwithstanding  the  stipulated  terms  of  surrender 
according  promises  of  life  and  safe  conduct  to  their  homes. 
Urrea  and  Ugartachea  had  marched  straight  on  from  San 
Antonio  almost  immediately  after  the  Alamo  fell.  They  went 
direct  to  Goliad.  Fannin  was  just  evacuating  the  old  La  Bahia 
Mission  near  there  w^here  he  had  assembled  his  small  force. 
Fannin  had  started  to  obey  Houston's  order  to  retreat.  Fannin 
had  delayed,  first  hoping  to  give  succor  to  the  beleaguered  in 
the  Alamo,  which  he  found  would  be  impossible.  Then  he  wait- 
ed, hoping  some  of  his  force  sent  to  succor  threatened  families 
to  return,  but  the  absentees  had  been  cut  off,  captured  and  slain, 
as  his  own  force  w^as,   several  days  after. 

Santa  Anna,  Felisola,  Almonte,  Woll,  Sesma  and  Tolsa 
marched  from  San  Antonio,  bent  on  capturing  the  main  body 
of  Texans  under  Houston  then  on  the  Colorado  River  not  far 
from  Bastrop.  As  Santa  Anna's  force  advanced,  that  of 
Houston  fell  back.  But  a  few  days'  marches  apart  were  the 
opposing  forces.  The  Mexicans  never  halted  until  they  reached 
the  Brazos.  The  Texans  stopped  for  a  short  time  at  Harris- 
burg  and  made  that  town  their  temporary  seat  of  government. 
Houston  there  learned  all  about  Santa  Anna's  strength  and 
intentions.     Felisola  was  left  with  the  large  reserve  force  at 


56  CO-MBATS    AND    CONQUESTS    OF    LmMORTAL    HeROES 

the  Brazos.  Woll  was  with  him.  Santa  xAnna,  accompanied 
by  Almonte,  Sesma  and  Tolsa,  formed  the  advance  guard 
leaders,  pushed  on  ahead.  Cos  came  close  behind,  his  force 
forming  the  support. 

Soon  after  Houston  retreated  down  the  stream  from 
Harrisburg,  Santa  Anna's  force  reached  and  burned  that  place. 
It  had  burned  and  pillaged  all  along  the  route,  annihilating 
Annahuac. 

Flushed  by  recent  victories,  never  before  having  endured 
defeat,  Santa  Anna's  horde  advanced,  their  hands  still  smeared 
and  their  attire  stained  with  the  blood  of  the  Alamo's  slain. 
On  they  marched  as  swiftly  as  consonant  with  keeping  in  touch 
with  their  supplies,  plundering  the  helpless,  looting  and  burning 
everywhere  and  stopping  to  parley  with  the  Indians  abounding 
about  the  vicinity.  The  Mexicans  endeavored  to  poison  the 
minds  of  the  Indians  against  the  Texans  and  tried  hard  to  in- 
duce the  aborigines  to  join  their  still  more  savage  band.  For- 
tunately the  Indians  held  aloof,  wisely  waiting  to  know  which 
contending  army  would  win,  well  knowing  the  valor  of  the 
Texans. 

Almost  in  its  van,  Santa  i\nna  pushed  on  his  invading 
host.  So  rapidly  it  moved  that  Almonte,  his  trusted  henchman 
came  near  capturing  David  G.  Burnet,  then  president  of  the 
young  Texas  Republic.  Burnet  and  his  wife,  with  several 
companions  in  a  small  boat,  were  fleeing  to  Galveston,  to 
which  city  the  Texas  seat  of  government  had  been  moved 
from  Harrisburg.  They  barely  managed  to  get  away  beyond 
the  range  of  Almonte's  fire  and  at  last  escaped. 

Learrirg  Cos'  force  had  crossed  Vince's  bridge  over  Bray's 
Bayou,  Houston  sent  Erasmus  ("Deaf")  Smith  and  Reeves 
to  cut  and  l)urn  it  to  prevent  Felisola's  command  from  crossirg 
and  joining  Santa  Anna  and  to  cut  off  the  latter's  retreat. 
Felisola  had  5,000  men  with  him.  Cos  was  the  same  Mexican 
commander  who  had  surrendered  at  San  Antonio  to  Milam's 
men  soon  after  Milam  was  slain,  but  who  was  ignorant  of  that 
fact.  This  was  the  winter  before.  "Deaf"  Smith  had  been 
in  that  fight  and  knew  the  faithlessness  of  Cos,  who  had  pledged 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        57 

himself  to  march  back  to  Mexico  and  fight  no  more  against  the 
Texan  troops.  So  Smith  gloried  in  the  task  of  destroying  the 
bridge.-  He  and  Reeves  soon  burned  it,  preventing  the  flight 
of  their  foemen. 

Raguet,-  wagon-master  of  Houston's  army  train,   with  a 
small  force,  had  captured  vehicles  laden  with  flour  and  other 


GENERAL  SAM  HOUSTON,  WHO  DEFEATED  SANTA  ANNA,  PKESIUENT  OF 
TEXAS  REPUBLIC,  GOVERNOR  OF  TEXAS 


Stores  of  Santa  Anna's  army  subsistence.  These  stores,  to- 
gether with  beeves  slain  by  Houston's  men  on  the  march  to 
San  Jacinto,  furnished  the  first  food  the  Tcxans  had  tasted  for 
two  whole  days.     This  capture  was  timcl\'  ar.d  important. 

On  the  night  of  April  19,  the  Texans  bivouacked  in  timber 
less  than  a  mile  from  the  Mexicans,  whose  bugles  they  heard 


58         Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


SEV.MtH'U    THOMAS'     EOESTTJIAX     PAINTING    OF    GEN.    SAM     HOUSTON 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  I:\ii\iortal  Heroes        59 

repeatedly  through  the  night,  another  small  oaken  grove  and 
a  slight  eminence  separating  the  two  contending  forces.  All 
told  the  Texans  had  but  738  men.  More  than  double  that 
number  was  the  combined  force  of  Santa  Anna  and  Cos.  The 
Texans  were  raw^  recruits.  Their  fee  men  were  all  seasoned 
soldiers. 

Fortunately  the  Texans  had  two  small  cannon,  these  fired 
six-pound  shot.  They  were  gifts  from  Cincinnati  sympathizers. 
Hockley  had  brought  them  from  Galveston.  Aptly  they  were 
named  the  "Twin-sisters."  Santa  Anna's  cannon  fired  twelve- 
pound  shot.  Santa  Anna  had  masked  his  cannon  behind  bar- 
racades   of  baggage. 

On  April  20,  Sidney  Sherman,  who  commanded  the  Texas 
Cavalry,  asked  to  charge  the  Mexican  horse  lodged  then  in  the 
intervening  grove.  Permission  was  accorded  and  he  did  so. 
The  Mexican  riders  swooped  out  of  the  woods  and  charged  the 
Texans,  who  retreated  so  as  to  brirg  the  Mexicans  in  rarige  of 
the  "Twin-Sisters."  These  guns  spoke  to  such  purpose,  the 
Mexican  horsemen  soon  fled  back  to  cover,  the  Texans  losing  then 
but  two  killed.  Night  came  on.  Both  armies  rested.  But  little  ease 
had  the  Texans  for  many  days  before,  having  traversed  muddy 
roads.  All  but  their  sentinels  this  night  slept  well.  Refreshed 
by  their  slumber,  again  they  feasted  en  feed  furnished  from 
Santa  Anna's  captured  commissariat.  Houston  paraded  his 
troops,  tellir  g  them  they  seen  would  fight  and  to  their  full  content. 
That  victory  was  to  crown  their  combat.  Rusk,  Secretary 
of  War,  was  with  them.  So  was  young  Lamar,  who  llic  day 
before  had  been  so  gallant  he  was  promoted  to  command  one 
of  the  calvalry  troops.  Houston  waited  until  the  afternoon  when 
lethargy  prevailed  in  the  Mexican  camp  and  Santa  Anna  was 
enjoying  his  siesta,  thinking  he  had  at  his  mercy,  as  a  cat  a 
mouse,    the   forces   in   front   of   him. 

Again  Sidney  Sherman  asked  to  pit  his  cavalr\'  against 
the  Mexican  cavaliers  and  draw  the  enemy  into  conflict,  again 
was  he  accorded  permission,  l)ut  told  to  be  cautious.  Houston, 
riding  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  commanded  them  to  advance, 


Combats  and  Coxquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        61 

but  reserve  their  fire  urtil  they  saw  the  white  of  the  enemy's  eyes. 
Burleson  and  Mihard  ccmmanded  the  Texas  infantry.  Hcckley 
and  Neill  ccmmanded  their  artillery.  The  latter  was  moved 
up  to  the  summit  of  the  smjall  emirerce.  Soon  after  Sherman 
and  Lamar  charged,  the  Mexican  horsemen  returned  the  charge. 
Santa  Anna,  who  slept,  was  awakened  suddenly  from  his  slum- 
ber by  the  duet  of  death  surg  by  the  "Twin-sisters."  In  con- 
fusion his  cavalry  fled  back  to  his  camp,  abandoning  their  own 
guns  in  the  grove.  Slowh*,  in  perfect  order  and  fine  forma- 
tion, the  Texans  advanced  up  to  Santa  Anna's  breast-works  of 
equipage  and  wagons.  They  went  on  and  over  it  and 
into  and  among  his  ranks.  The}^  fired  at  close  range 
and  with  rifles,  shot  guns  and  pistols.  They  captured 
cannon  and  turned  the  Mexicans'  own  artillery  on 
them.  The  latter  fought  but  eighteen  minutes.  They 
then  fled  madly  and  wildh^  utterly  routed.  Many 
mired  and  perished  in  the  morass  to  their  rear  in 
which  they  were  trampled  underfoot  by  their  comrades  and 
pursuers.  Others  vainly  essayed  to  cross  back  by  Vince's 
bridge,  but  it  was  gone.  Many  more  were  drowned  trying  to 
cross  the  boggy  bayou.  Some,  but  very  few,  escaped  to  rejoin 
Felisola.   The   battle   cries    of    the    Texans: 

"Remember  the  Alamo!" 

"Remember  Goliad!" 

Still  rang  in  their  ears.  Felisola  fell  back  to  San 
Antonio,  upon  recieving  the  tidings  of  Santa  Anna's  de- 
feat. Six  hundred  and  thirty  of  Santa  Anna's  soldiers 
were  slain  in  battle.  Two  hundred  and  eight  were  seri- 
ously wounded,  many  of  whom  died  after.  Seven  hundred 
and  thirty  surrendered  and  became  prisoners -of  war,  among 
them  the  accomplished  linguist  and  r.onchalant  Almonte. 
The  Texans  had  but  eight  killed  and  twenty-five  wounded, 
eleven  seriously.  One  of  these  was  the  only  present  survivor 
of  the  San  Jacinto  battle,  who  told  me  its  stor}',  the  brave  vet- 
eran,  Alfonso  Steele. 

Next  day  after  the  brittle,  James  A.  Sylvester,  heading  a 


62        Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

scouting  party  saw  some  one  crouching  in  the  tall  grass  and 
covering  his  head  with  a  blanket,  This  person  was  clad  in  the 
soiled  duck  of  an  ordinary  Mexican  soldier.  On  his  head  was 
an  old  straw  hat,  but  his  shirt  was  fine  linen.  In  it  were  gold 
buttons.  Abjectly  he  surrendered  and  was  delivered  to  Major 
Forbes.  Then  he  requested  to  be  taken  at  once  to  General  Sam 
Houston  saying: 

"Yo  estoi  Don  Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa  Anna,  el  pres- 
idente  y  el  commandante  de  todas  las  armas  y  soldados 
del  Republica  Mejicana."  ('T  am  Don  Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa 
Anna  the  president  and  commander-in-chief  of  all  of  the  arms 
and  troops  of  the  republic  of  Mexico.") 

First  he  was  taken  before  General  Rusk  and  afterwards 
before  General  Houston.  The  latter  w^as  reclining  under  a  large 
oak  tree,  where  a  surgeon  was  dressing  the  wound  in  Houston's 
leg.  Houston's  horse  had  been  shot  under  him  in  the  battle 
and  himself  badly  hurt.  Houston  did  not  recover  from  his 
injury  for  several  months. 

Santa  Anna  was  told  to  seat  himself  on  a  tool  box  near 
by  and  at  his  request  Almonte  was  sent  for  to  interpret  for  him. 
Young  Lorenzo  de  Zavala,  of  Houston's  army  also  acted  as  in- 
terpreter, that  there  might  be  no  duplicity.  Santa  Anna  said 
Houston  might  well  be  proud  of  receiving  the  surrender  of 
himself  and  Santa  Anna  proclaimed  himself  the  "Napoleon 
of  the  West"  until  then  invincible  and  comparing 
Houston  to  Wellington,  but  Houston  cut  him  short 
and  told  him  it  was  better  for  him  to  explain,  if 
he  could,  why  he  had  mercilessly  slain  those  at  the  Alamo 
and  his  subaltern  those  at  Goliad,  the  latter  after  pledging 
the  prisoners  life  and  liberty.  Santa  Anna  said  it  was  a 
rule  of  w^ar  to  put  to  the  sword  an  inferior  force  unnecessarily 
holding  out  against  a  superior  one,  besieging  a  fortress.  Houston 
told  him  the  custom  was  obsolete  and  contrary  to  principles  of. 
humanity.  Houston  then  asked  him  why  Fannin  and  his  force 
had  been  butchered  at  Goliad,  Santa  Anna  replied  it  was  because 
orders  had  been  issued  by  the  Mexican  government  to  treat  as 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        63 

pirates  all  found  fighting  against  it,  or  with  arms  in  their  hands, 
who  were  under  no  flag  of  an}'  nation  recognized  by  Mexico. 
Houston  told  him  he,  Santa  Anna,  being  the  dictator,  was 
the  Mexican  nation  and  his  minion,  Urrea,  had  no  right  after 
receiving  their  surrender  to  assassinate  those  w^hom  he  had  stip- 
ulated to  protect  after  surrender.  Santa  Anna,  at  first  denied 
that  Urrea  had  received  their  surrender  or  signed  articles  of 
capitulation  w^ith  Fannin.  He  likewise  threatened  to  punish 
Urrea  for  so  doing  in  violation  of  orders. 

Santa  Anna  complained  of  thirst  and  hunger.  He  was  given 
w^ater  first  and  then  food.  When  about  to  drink  from  the  cup 
handed  him  he  gave  the  Masonic  distress  sign.  Whether  this 
saved  his  life,  or  w^hether  Houston,  against  the  protest  of  man)' 
of  his  officers  and  more  of  his  men,  spared  Santa  Anna  because 
he  could  not  afford  to  bring  down  odium  on  the  Texan  cause 
among  other  nations,  as  Santa  Anna  had  by  his  merciless  murd- 
ers, has  ever  been  an  open  question.  It  is  not  unlikely  Houston 
was  influenced  both  by  fraternal  obligations  and  still  broader 
humanity,  and  showed  a  sagacity  that  has  since  commended 
Houston  to  posterity.  His  conduct  was  in  strong  contrast  to 
that  of  his  captive,  who  was  soon  permitted  to  sail  from  Ve- 
lasco  to  Vera  Cruz  to  consummate  the  treaty  of  peace  between 
Mexico  and  Texas,  but  was  hardly  out  of  sight  of  land  before 
violating  his  pledges.  General  Tom  Green  had  endeavored  to 
have  Santa  Anna  held  b}'  President  Burnet,  and  the  prisoner 
was  detained  a  few  days  but   released. 

The  character  of  Santa  Anna,  then  head  of  the  Mexican 
nation,  is  in  strong  contrast  with  the  admirable  attributes  of 
her  present  ruler,  the  patriotic  but  pacific  Porfirio  Diaz,  emi- 
nent aliKe  as  a  statesman  and  a  soldier. 


2  S 


w  o 

ft!     > 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        65 


CHAPTER  VI 

INDIAN    MASSACRE    IN    SAN     ANTONIO.       WILD     SAVAGES     ATTEMPT 
TRICKERY.       SL'DDENLY    THEY    ATTACK    THE    CIVIL     AUTHO- 
RITIES,   SLAYING  SEVERAL.        IMANY    SAVAGES 
WERE    HILLED. 

Memorable  in  the  annals  of  the  Sunset  City  is  the  day- 
known  on  the  Catholic  church  calendar  as  St.  Joseph's  day 
and  on  her  own  as  that  of  the  Indian  massacre.  The  day  w^as 
Tuesday,  March  18,  1840.  The  Spanish  speaking  portion 
of  the  population  generally  called  it:  "El  dia  de  San  Jose." 

That  day  65  Indians  came  into  the  town,  then  but  a 
small  village,  and  only  about  6  years  after  the  Alamo's  fall. 
The  purpose  of  their  visit  was  ostensibly  to  make  a  treaty  of 
peace  in  which  was  to  be  included  terms  for  the  restoration 
of  numerous  captives,  all  children,  whom  the  Indians  held 
in  custody  in  their  wigwams  in  the  Sabinal  Canon,  some  90 
miles  w^est  of  San  Antonio. 

Reluctantly  they  brought  with  them  Matilda  Mary  Lock- 
hart,  who  two  years  before,  together  with  her  sister,  the  Indians 
had  carried  off  into  captivity  after  killing  two  of  the  Lockhart 
family. 

When  the  Indians  came  into  town  they  went  to  the  Court 
House.  It  then  stood  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Market  street 
and  the  Main  Plaza.  At  that  time  Market  street  was  called 
la  Calle  de  Calabosa,  or  the  Calaboose  street .  because  the  jail, 
which  was  just  across  an  alley  from  the  Court  House  that 
stood  facing  that  street  and  was  in  the  rear  of  the  Court 
House.  The  latter  was  a  two-story  structure,  w^hile  the  cala- 
boose was  but  a  single-storied  affair.  Captain  Howard  com- 
manded a  company  of  rangers,  which  was  then  c(uartered  in 
the  Court   House   edifice   or   bivouacked   about   the   jail. 

When  the  Indians  reached  the  Court  House,  most  of  them 
came  into  the  spacious  court  chamber,  where  they  either  stood 
or  squatted  about  its  area.  They  ke])t  keen  and  scrutinous 
w^atch  upon  every  movement  of  the  whites  with  whom  I  hey 
w^ere  then  in  council.  As  the  deliberations  ])rogressed  some 
Indian  boys  and  a  squaw  were  in  the  yard  behind  the  Court 
House.       The  boys  were  engaged  in  shooting  witli  tlicir  bows 


Q     W     Z 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        67 

and  arrows  at  the  coins  tossed  into  the  air  by  Americans  who 
were  watching  the   marksmanship  of  the   boys. 

Without  being  noticed  this  squaw  slipped  into  the  Court 
House  during  the  deliberations.  This  council  was  the  third 
pow-wow  held  between  the  Indians  and  the  whites  on  the  sub- 


JOHN     JAMES.     PIONEER.     PATRIOT.     SURVEYOR.        HAD     EXCITING     ENCOVNTER     WITH     AN     INDIAN. 

ject  of  surrender  and  restoration  of  the  captive  children. 
The  first  had  resulted  in  no  agreement  being  reached.  At 
the  second  the  Americans  had '  agreed  to  give  money  ransom 
liberally,   as  well  as  to  make  payments  in  ammunition,  beads, 


9  ^ 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        69 

confections  and  food-stuffs.  They  sent  the  ransom  to  the 
savages  by  a  party  under  a  peace  pact  and  truce  flag.  When 
this  party  reached  the  Indian  village  in  the  canon,  small  pox 
broke  out  among  the  inhabitants,  many  of  whom  died  from  it. 
Under  the  pretext  that  the  whites  had  brought  with  them 
this  small  pox  visitation,  the  Indians  set  upon  the  whites, 
slew  the  entire  party,  took  all  the  ransom,  but  failed  to  restore 
any    of   the    captives. 

When  the  third  conclave  was  held,  the  whites  were  deter- 
mined to  not  be  again  duped.  At  this  council  the  savages 
demanded  large  quantities  of  war  paints,  powder,  lead,  money, 
candy,  beads,  and  other  things  for  the  restoration  of  the  Lock- 
hart  girl  and  a  Mexican  boy  they  brought  with  them.  In 
turn  the  whites  demanded  the  restoration  of  all  captives  held 
by  the  Indians,  a  considerable  number,  agreeing  to  pay  all  the 
ransom  they  asked,  but  proposed  to  hold  five  of  the  Indian 
chiefs  as  hostages  while  the  balance  of  the  savage  party  should 
return  to  their  camp  and  bring  back  the  ransomed  captives 
from  the  Sabinal  Cafion  and  deliver  them  in  San  Antonio  in 
the  Court  House.  The  hostages  were  guaranteed  safety  and 
good  treatment  during  the  absence  of  their  companions.  The 
Indians  were  then  given  to  understand  unequivocally  if  they 
did  not  agree  to  these  terms  the  rangers  would  capture  and  im- 
prison the  entire  party  until  its  absent  companions  should 
bring  in  the  captives. 

The  ultimatum  was  delivered  to  them  through  an  in- 
terpreter speaking  the  language  of  the  Comanche  Indian 
nation. 

The  reply  of  the  Indians  was  characteristic.  With  a  sud- 
den, swift  and  blood  curdling  warwhoop,  they  sprang  upon 
the  whites,  attacking  the  soldiers  and  civilians  in  the  Court 
room  and  made  a  dash  for  liberty.  Captain  Howard  promptly 
ordered  his  rangers  to  fire  upon  the  Indians.  Unfortunately 
the  first  volley  killed  two  of  the  San  Antonians.  But  it  like- 
wise killed  quite  a  number  of  the  aborigines. 

The  fighting  was  hand  to  hand  between  the  Rangers  and 
the  Comanches.  The  Indian  boys  who  had  been  shooting 
at  the  coins  and  had  their  weapons  ready  when  the  combat 
began  took  part  and  killed  some  of  the  whites  who  were  slain. 
Squaws  also  fought  like  fiends  and  likewise  killed  some  of  the 
whites.  Among  these  was  Judge  Thompson,  a  prominent  South 
Carolina  lawyer,  a  recent  arrival.    Others  who  were  killed  were: 


■ms£., 


i 


¥1. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        71 

Julius  Hood,  who  was  then  the  sheriff;  G.  W.  Cayce,  of  Bra- 
zoria, an  officer  of  the  American  garrison,  one  of  its  soldiers 
and  a  Mexican  spectator.  Those  severely  wounded  were 
Lieutenant  Thompson,  a  brother  of  one  of  the  slain;  Captain 
Thomas  Howard;  Captain  Matthew  Caldwell,  of  Gonzales; 
Judge  Robinson;  Deputy  Sheriff  Morgan  and  two  of  the  ranger 
soldiers.  Several  others  had  minor  wounds.  Among  them 
was   a   Mr.    Higginbotham. 

Samuel    A.    Maverick's    wife's    brother,  Andrew    Adams, 
shot  and  killed  several  of  the  Indians  on  Soledad  street.     One 


"32^  ^llfl'Mlllf^lf" 


-^rt 


HOUSE  IN  SAN  ANTONIO   WHERE  ROBERT  E.  LEE  AND  ALBERT  SYDNEY  JOHNSTON   LIVED  AT    THE 
OUTBREAK    OF     CIVIL     WAR. 


was  a  savage  who  menaced  the  lives  of  the  Maverick  children 
then  playing  in  their  yard  near  the  river  and  where  the  Kamp- 
mann  building  now  stands.  The  nurse  of  the  children,  Jennie 
Anderson,  a  negress,  then  enacted  the  role  of  a  heroine.  She 
placed  herself  between  the  children  and  the  Indian,  enabling 
the  children  to  flee  in  safety  to  the  house.  Adams  went  after 
the  Indian,  who  saw  him  and  sprang  into  the  river.     Just  as 


72        Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

the  Comanche  reached  the  middle  of  the  stream  Adams 
fired,  shooting  him  through  the  head.  The  Savage  sank  to 
rise   alive   no   more. 

Another  Indian  was  lying  mortally  wounded  out  in  Soledad 
street  in  front  of  the  Maverick  home.  Just  as  a  passing  Cauca- 
sian was  about  to  give  the  Commanche  the  coup  de  grace, 
by  shooting  him  through  the  heart,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Maverick, 
wife  of  Samuel  A.  Maverick  Sr.,  implored  him  not  to  do  so. 
The  Caucasian  passed  on  without  further  molestation  to  the 
Comanche.     The   latter   died   soon    after. 

At  this  time  Captain  Lysander  Wells,  a  prominent  person- 
age, was  passing  northward  riding  a  superb  horse.  His  saddle 
and  bridle  had  silver  housings  and  mountings.  Shortly  be- 
fore he  had  purchased  the  animal  and  caparison  to  take  back 
home  with  him  to  another  state.  As  he  reached  the  front  of  the 
Veramendi  Palace,  an  Indian  suddenly  rushed  up  to  his  side 
and  swung  upon  the  horse  behind  Wells,  closing  his  arms 
around  Wells  and  endeavoring  to  seize  the  bridle  reins. 

Wells  and  the  Indian  struggled  for  some  time  for  supremacy. 
Finally  Wells  managed  to  draw  a  pistol  he  had  in  a  holster 
on  the  pommel  of  the  saddle.  He  placed  the  muzzle  of  the 
weapon  against  the  Indian's  side,  near  the  heart  and  fired. 
The  Indian  rolled  off  head  foremost  from  the  horse  falling  to 
the   ground   limp   and   lifeless. 

All  but  a  dozen  of  the  Indians  were  slain,  the  dozen  having 
been  taken  prisoners,  among  these  being  an  aged  squaw.  She 
was  the  widow  of  one  of  the  Chiefs  who  had  been  killed  in  this 
engagement.  This  woman  was  sent  to  inform  the  people  of 
her  tribe  of  the  affair  and  to  demand  of  them  to  bring  in  for 
immediate  exchange  all  captives  held  by  them.  The  captured 
Indians  in  San  Antonio  were  to  be  exchanged  for  those  children 
in  the  custody  of  the  Indians  in  the  Sabinal  Canon. 

She  hurried  back  on  her  mission.  On  reaching  them 
she  told  her  people  that  the  whites  had  decreed  if  the  captives 
held  by  the  Indians  were  not  brought  into  San  Antonio  in  12 
days  all  of  the  Indian  prisoners  held  hostage  there  would  be 
executed. 

When  their  squaw  reached  the  camp  and  told  the  tidings, 
the  Indians  began  a  most  dismal  howling  and  wailing  which 
they  continued  for  several  days  incessantly.  They  killed 
their  horses,  stuck  knives  into  their  own  flesh  and  proceeded 
to  dispose  of  their  captives  after  torturing  them  in  various 
ways.     Finally    roasting    some    of    them    slowly    until    death 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


73 


relieved  them  of  their  agony.  Only  two  of  the  children  were 
spared,  one  was  a  girl  whose  surname  was  Putnam,  the  other 
a  boy  between  7  and  8  years  old  whose  name  was  B.  L.  Webster. 
The  age  of  the  girl  was  then  5  years.  The  reason  the  twain 
were  spared  was  because  they  both  had  been  adopted  into 
the  tribe  as  members  of  it  and  as  children  of  chiefs  and  squaws 
who  had  lost  their  own  children. 


OLD    JOHN    JAMES    HOME 


The  .San  Antonians,  on  hearing  of  the  slaughter  of  the 
captive  whites  by  the  Comanches  did  not  retaliate  as  they 
had  threatened  upon  the  hostages  held  by  the  whites.  Ulti- 
mately they  liberated  their  prisoners  and  permitted  them  to 
return  to  their  tribe,  but  several  refused  to  do  so  fearing  lest 
upon   return   they   should   be   murdered. 

;  While  the  Indians  were  kept  in  captivity  in  San  Antonio 
they  were  objects  of  much  curiosity,  almost  the  entire  pop- 
ulation having  taken  occasion  to  visit  them.  Later  on  the 
tribesmen  asked  for  exchange  of  some  of  them.  The  exchanges 
were /made  and  the  Webster  boy  and  Putnam  girl  returned 
to  "the  whites,   but  the  girl  frequently  wept  and  begged  to  be 


74         Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lmmortal  Heroes 

permitted  to  return  to  her  Comanche  foster  parents.  A 
Mexican  boy  who  had  been  exchanged  did  run  away  and  re- 
turn to  the  Indians.  This  memorable  miassacre  by  the  whites 
of  the  Indians  and  the  kilHng  of  a  number  of  whites  in  con 
nection  with  it  was  the  most  important  episode  in  the  history 
of   San   Antonio   connected   with   her  Indian   warfare. 


ALOXZO    STEELE,  SOLE    SURVIVOR    OF    HOUSTON'S    ARMY    WHO    TOOK    PART    IN    THE 
BATTLE    OF     SAN    JACINTO. 


CONBATS    AMD    CONQUESTS    OF    ImMORTAL    HeROES  75 


THE   SAN    ANTONIO    RIVER. 


Thy    crystal    springs,    those    peariy    founts 

That    form    thy    gushing    source — 
Thy    mossy    banks,    thine    azure    depths — 

Thy    rapid,    ripphng    course: 
Thy    rocky    fords,    o'erhung    by    shade — 

Thy    sparkHng    merry    flow: 
The    verdure    of    thy    fertile    bed, 

So    beauteous    below — 


Those   scented   shrubs   above   thy   brinks, 

Whose    many    tinted    blooms 
Dispel    about    thy    fair    confines 

The    choicest    of    perfumes: 
Thy    bosom,    pure,    pellucid    stream, 

Bedeck 'd    with    lillies    white, 
All    silv'ry    in    the    moon's    soft    beam 

And    mellow'd    by    her    light: 


The    music    of    thy    murm'ring    tide, 

That    glides    so    gaily    free 
And    sings    so    many    magic    songs 

Of    matchless    melody 
These   all,    fair   stream,    God's   praise   exalt, 

In    Nature's    voice    sublime. 
Let    them    proclaim    His    peerless    Grace 

Unto      the      end      of      time. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


LEGEND  OF  THE  SAN  ANTONIO  RIVER. 

It  was  old  Don  .Vntonio  Menchaca,  the  venerable  seer 
of  San  Antonio,  who  in  1875,  told  me  the  legend  depicting 
the  origin  of  the  San  Antonio  river.  This  story  he  narrated 
to  me  while  he  and  I  were  guests  of  George  W.  Brackenridge 
at  the  latter's  then  beautiful  home.  Fern  Ridge,  at  the  head 
of  this  lovely  river.     It  was  there  to  me  old  Don  Antonio  said: 

"The  first  who  rode  here  at  the  head  of  his  brave  Con- 
quistadores  was  the  proud  and  haughty  Don  Domingo  Ramon. 
He  and  his  Spanish  Cavaliers  were  then  in  quest  of  gold  and 
adventure  and  came  to  conquer  in  the  name  of  their  King 
of   Spain. 

'Tn  their'  train  rode  a  number  of  Padres.  These  were 
holy  missionaries.  The  most  pious  of  these  Padres  was  Marjil, 
who,  with  his  Franciscan  flock,  came  to  convert  to  Christianity 
the  natives  whom  Ramon  and  his  cavaliers  sought  to  conquer. 
These  natives,  before  this,  had  no  thought  of  Christianity, 
They  worshipped  the  sun  and  stars,  the  moon  and  mountains, 
the  rivers  and  other  broad  and  deep  waters. 

"Before  the  brave  band  of  Spanish  Knights  and  their 
meek  missionary  companions  could  bring  under  subjection 
and  conversion  these  simple-minded  aborigines,  many  long 
leagues  had  to  be  gone  and  long  dry  and  dusty  marches  made 
over  the  trackless  waste  they  had  to  traverse. 

'Tt  was  while  they  and  their  weary  steeds  were  wending 
their  w^ay  over  the  immense  expanse,  that  both  beasts  and 
riders  became  almost  famished  from  thirst.  This  thirst  became 
so  intense  it  was  almost  as  sharp  as  the  thorns  of  the  chapparal 
and  cactus  through  which  they  clove  their  way,  finding  mean- 
while, naught  with  which  to  assuage  their  thirst.  Their 
throats  were  as  dry  as  the  beds  of  what  had  once  been  swollen 
streams.  Their  tongues  were  as  swollen,  too,  as  erstwhile, 
the   surceased   streams   had   been. 

"But  one  day,  after  they  had  wearily  crept  along  until 
almost  noon,  in  the  distance  there  appeared  to  their.,  vision 
some  verdant  foliage.  To  this  they  directed  their  course, 
deflecting  it  from  the  route  they  had  been  following.  On 
reaching  the  valley  in  which  it  grew  they  found  friendly  shade 
and  some  succulent  grass  which  refreshed  their  nearly  famished 
steeds.     But    they    saw    no   water   wherewith    to    slake    their 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Hkroes        77 

own    thirst.     Wearily    the    cavaliers    threw    themselves    down 
from  their  saddles  to  the  ground  after  loosening  the  girths. 

"The  monks  dismounted  as  well.  They  did  not  cast 
themselves  upon  the  grass,  although  they  undid  the  girths 
of  their  patient  mounts.  Led  by  Marjil,  those  monks  devoutly 
prayed  long  for  water  for  their  companions,  their  steeds  and 
themselves.  In  these  orisons,  most  devout  of  all  was  Marjil. 
He  had  strong  faith  in  the  efficacy  of  his  supplications.     All 


DON      ANTONIO     MENCHACA.      PATRIOT.      SEEK.        ARBITER      OF     OLD      TIME     SfOKTS. 


of  the  monks  knelt  beneath  the  umbrageous  branches  of  the 
broad  spreading  oak  that  canopied  this  cluster  of  pious  |)riests 
and   brave   cavaliers. 

"Fervently  clasping  his  hands  upon  his  breast,  Marjil 
reverently  cast  his  eyes  Heavenward  as  he  poured  forth  his 
devotions.  While  thus  engaged,  at  first  he  was  so  engrossed 
he  did  not  then  notice  an  object  that  later  grew  upon  his  gaze. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        79 

This  was  grapes,  growing  in  clusters  on  a  vine,  and  high  up 
amid  the  branches  of  the  stately  oak  beneath  which  he  knelt. 
Leisurely  Marjil  finished  his  orisons.  He  knew  his  suppli- 
cations had  been  answered  for  the  grapes  would  assuage  the 
thirst   of  his   cavalcade. 

"When  his  prayers  were  at  an  end  he  turned  to  his  com- 
panions and  told  them  soon  w^ould  their  thirst  be  slaked.  They 
had  not,  as  he  had  done,  looked  upward  and  had  not  seen  the 
purple  spheres  that  Marjil 's  vision  had  rested  on.  There- 
fore they  marveled  when  he  essayed  to  climb  a  vine  which  grew 
beside  the  tree  and  up  into  its  branches.  Slowly  he  climbed 
At  last  when  he  had  almost  reached  the  spot  where  grew  the 
grapes  he  slipped  suddenly  and  with  great  impact  fell  back  to 
the  root  of  the  vine.     It  was  pulled  up  by  the  force  of  his  fall. 

"Before  he  had  started  to  climb  the  vine,  to  his  com- 
panions Marjil   had  exclaimed: 

"See,  my  brothers!  Above  us  amid  the  limbs  of  this  oak 
are  grapes.  These  will  our  thirst  appease.  Let  us  give  praise 
to  our  Lord  for  them,  for  it  is  He  who  has  sent  them  to  us." 

"But  when  he  fell  the  jar  from  his  sudden  stop  had 
uprooted  the  vine.  From  a  deep  orifice  at  once,  to  their 
great  marvel,  there  came  a  bold  flow  of  pure  water,  cool 
and  delicious  and  gushing  freely  and  sparkling  like  jewels  in 
the    sunlight. 

"Before  they  drank,  all  knelt  and  prayed  with  Marjil, 
offering   up   their  fervent   thanks. 

"Thus  was  the  origin  of  this  splendid  stream,  the  San 
Antonio  river.  This  is  the  oak  and  this  the  stream  which 
sprung  forth  beneath  it."  said  Don  Antonio  Menchaca,  as  he 
piously  crossed  himself  and  murmered  a  prayer,  while  we  stood 
beneath  the  branches  of  the  ancient  oak  standing  beside  the 
spring    at    Brackenridge   Villa. 

Appropriatel}^  the  place  has  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
religious,  where  pious  Padre  Marjil  and  his  missionary  priests 
offered  their  orisons  for  water  and  uttered  benedictions  for 
securing  it.  A  shrine  has  been  there  erected  where  the 
sacred  Sisterhood  of  the  Incarnate  Word  pray  for  the  souls 
of  the  sinful  who  since  have  come  to  this  jDropinquity. 


80        Combats  and  Coxouests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


LEGEND  OF  ENCHANTMENT. 

It  was  Don  Antonio  Menchaca  who,  likewise,  told  me 
another  and  startling  story.  This  was  another  legend  and 
one  of  enchantment  at  a  critical  moment.     It  ran  thus: 

"As  Don  Domingo  Ramon  and  his  doughty  Dons  and 
Castillian  Cavaliers,  together  with  their  little  band  of  mission- 
aries rode  leisurely  along  to  the  Eastward  out  of  the  golden  West, 
suddenly  they  saw  and  found  themselves  surrounded  by  a 
swarm  of  savages.  The  aborigines,  by  their  manner,  indicated 
the   intention   of  attacking  the  party  of  Spaniards. 

'Tt  was  then  Padre  Marjil,  chief  of  the  missionary  group, 
a  very  pious  prelate,  found  prayer  a  powerful  preventive. 
He  began  to  pray  very  earnestly  and  called  on  all  in  the 
train  to  do  likewise  for  deliverance  from  the  Indians.  His 
cowded  and  hooded  comrades  followed  his  behest  and  knelt 
with  bowed  heads  beside  and  around  him  after  all  had  dis- 
mounted and  even  the  cavaliers  joined  in  prayer,  but  finally, 
the   brave    Ramon   exclaimed: 

"'Look,  Holy  Father,  the  savages  are  upon  us.  It  is  much 
better  that  we  fight  than  pray.'  "  But  the  holy  friar,  whose 
eyes  until  then  had  been  cast  upward,  turned  them  in  the 
direction  indicated  by  Ramon  and  then  meekly  and  softly 
replied : 

" 'Valorous  and  ilustrious  knight,  your  eyes  deceive  you. 
I  see  no  savages.  Where  some  moments  since  I  saw  some 
warlike  persons,  now  I  only  observe  a  herd  of  harmless  deer 
peacefully  browsing  on  the  succulent  sward  surrounding  us.' 

"Miraculously  the  swarm  of  savages  had  been  mictamor- 
phosed  by  the  agency  of  prayer  into  inofi^ensive  deer.  For 
their  deliverance  the  Cavaliers  and  their  leader,  Ramon,  joined 
the  pious  Padres  in  prayerful  thanks  and  praise.  Then  all 
of  them  again  rode  forward  on  their  journey  which  brought 
them  into  the  valley  where  they  afterward  found  the  San 
Antonio   river. 

"Although  then  the  Spaniards  hungered  much,  as  well 
as  thirsted,  and  could  easily  have  killed  many  of  those  deer,  they 
refrained  from  so  doing.  They  feared  they  might  have  com- 
mitted canibalism  if  they  had  eaten  the  flesh  of  the  enchanted 
deer  which  so  shortly  before  had  been  human  beings.  Their 
priests  also  persuaded  them  it  would  be  wrong  to  slay  harm- 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        81 

less  deer  since  when  they  had  been  savage  men  none  of  them 
had    been    permitted   to    harm    the    Spaniards.'' 

Ever  since  then  there  has  been  a  herd  of  deer  about  the 
head  of  the  San  Antonio  river  and  in  San  Pedro  park,  but 
the  deer,  usually,  have  been  specimens  of  zoological  collections 
grouped  there.  If  any  of  them  are  blood  relatives  to  the 
enchanted  herd  no  one  knows,  but  they  are  stalwart  and 
splendid  specimens  of  the  antlered  tribe  and  their  stride  is  as 
stately  as  the  step  of  an  Indian  chief. 

The  collection  of  deer,  elk  and  buffalo  at  Brackenridge 
Park  is  pronounced  one  of  the  superb  groups  gathered  about 
this  seductive  resort.  All  are  tame  and  frequently  feed 
from  the  hands  of  the  many  visitors  and  form  prominent  at- 
tractions at  this  park.  In  it  there  are  also  many  peafowls, 
swans  and  other  lovely  birds.  The  zoological  collection 
at  San  Pedro  park  is  also  an  excellent  one.  The  former 
taxidermist  there,  G.  Germy,  recently  deceased,  was  a  noted 
student  of  nature  and  an  eminent  savant.  He  prepared 
many  of  the  specimens  there. 


FAR    AWAY. 

I    am    sitting    'neath    the    poplars 
At  vSan  Pedro's  pearly  springs 

Where    the    murmur    of    the    waters 
To  my  soul  sweet  solace  brings. 


Here   the   moonlight,    soft   and   mellow 
O'er  the  lakelet  sheds  its  beam 

And    is    shining   on    two    lovers 
In  a  boat  out  on  the  stream. 


They  are  whispering  in  accents 
That  are  wafted  to  the  shore 

And  which  tell  the  old,  old  story 
And    repeat    it    o'er    and    o'er. 


82        Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


There    is    music    on    the    water — 
A    guitar   the    maiden   strings, 

As    a    song    unto    her    lover 

Sweetly  here  the  maiden  sings. 


Now    I'm    thinking    of    a    maiden 
In    the    distance    far    away, 

Who    once    was    wont    to    sing    me 
Measures  soft  and  sweet  as  they. 


I    am    minded    of    one    as    tender 
And  the   love-tone  in  her  lay 

For    the   song  that  then   she   sang   me 
She  had  named  it:  "Far  Away." 


While     I     hear    this    maiden    singing 
Many    memories    awake, 

That    'til    now    have    lightly    slumber'd 
Like    the    lillies    on    the    lake. 


But    the    wave    hath    wak'd    the    lilly 
As  the  oar  caressed  it's  crest 

And  these   strains  have  rouse 'd  my   mem'ry, 
Like    the    lilly,    from    its   rest. 


So    I    know    that    voice    will    linger 
In  mine  ear  and  fill  my  heart. 

For    a    spell    it's    pow'r    hath    waken'd 
That  thro  life  can  ne'er  depart 


And    I'll    cherish    it    in    mem'ry 
Tho   the   tones   will   sadly   say 

The    song    is    like    my    Darling 

And   they  both   are:   Far  Away. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lmmortal  Heroes        83 


CHAPTER  Vn. 
romances   of  the   river,     charming   trysting   places  and 

OTHER   seductive    SPOTS    ALONG   ITS   COURSE.  SOME 

OF      THE      SEVERAL      TRAGEDIES      THAT      TOOK 

PLACE  ALONG  THIS  STRANGE  STREAM. 

In  early  days — when  I  first  came  to  San  iVntonio,  the 
waters  of  both  the  San  Antonio  and  San  Pedro  streams  were 
pure  and  clear,  sparkling  as  they  flowed  through  the  city. 
There  were  deep  but  limpid  pools  in  many  places.  They 
were  all  undefiled,  for  everyone  delighted  to  drink  from  them. 
Much  greater  then  was  the  volume  of  water  that  flowed  in  both 
and  boats  glided  over  them,  although  their  currents  were 
both    strong   and   swift. 

Their  banks  were  shady  and  seductive,  inviting  all. 
who  had  the  leisure  to  loiter  along  them.  Many  and 
beautiful  flowers  grew  and  lined  the  banks,  while  many  shrubs 
of  varied  hue  there  also  grew  and  their  foliage  flourished 
nurtured  by  the  rich  soil.  The  banks  and  shady  groves 
along  the  San  Antonio  river  were  favored  resorts  for  lovers 
and  many  trysting  places  were  there,  where  in  days  gone  by, 
many  lovers  met  or  left  missives  of  meeting  and  greeting. 

Many  romances  were  enacted  there.  Beneath  the  broad 
spreading  trees  many  troths  were  plighted  and  many  vows 
of  love  and  constancy  pledged.  But,  most  of  those  who  vowed 
like  their  vows,  are  now  forgotten.  The  words  they  then 
lightly  uttered  were  wafted  away  upon  the  perfumed  breezes 
that  passed  among  the  trees.  Time  has  carried  down  life's 
streams  to  oblivion  many  of  the  forms  then  fair  and  young 
and  full  of  life  and  love  and  hope.  Those  were  such  who 
pledged  their  troths  there  and  kept  their  trysts  beneath  those 
trees. 

While  it  rippled  and  sparkled  and  merrily  meandered 
among  its  many  crooks  and  curves,  giving  no  suspicion  thereof, 
sometimes,  if  not  often,  some  dark  secret  was  hidden  beneath 
its  shimmering  waters  and  within  its  placid  bosom.  Some- 
times it  revealed  soine  sombre  spectacle  that  made  strong  men 
shudder  and  women  weep.  Sometimes,  as  loth  to  part 
from  such  precious  burdens,  it  clasped  the  fair,  fragile  form 
of  some  maid  of  matchless  beauty,  or  youth  of  athletic  mould 


4r 


1;'? 


e--.i-M -A|Vi 


^■W 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        85 

and  superb  shape.  Sometimes,  within  its  embrace,  it  bore 
the  sere  and  old.  But  oftenest  the  burdens  of  human  form 
it  bore  upon  its  bosom  were  the  young  and  fair  and  these  it 
seemed  most  loth  to  relinquish. 

Of  the  many  romances  of  the  river  this  is  one.  A  maid  of 
peerless  grace  and  beauty  was  Maria  Morales.  She  was  the 
affianced  of  Alfonso  Salinas.  He  was  chosen  from  many  who 
had  paid  her  court.  But  Alfonso  was  not  her  father's  choice. 
Instead  he  preferred  her  cousin,  Diego  Ximenes,  who  was 
wealthy. 

But  Alfonso  played  the  guitar  and  sang  sonnets  to  the 
senorita's  eyes,  while  Diego  was  dull  and  heavy  of  speech 
and  a  gawk  who  could  not  lisp  love  nor  praise  her  grace  and 
charm  as  could  the  courtly  Alfonso.  It  was  Maria's  father 
who  made  love  for  Diego  and  with  such  effect  that  Maria  had 
once  gone  so  far  as  to  set  the  day  when  she  was  to  wed  Diego. 

While  she  named  the  day  for  him  she  named  the  night 
before  for  nuptials  with  Alfonso  and  it  was  Alfonso  who  brought 
not  only  his  mandolin  but  his  boat  beneath  her  window.  From 
the  casement  softly  she  glided  down  into  Alfonso's  arms  and 
the  boat.  Swiftly  he  rowed  up  the  stream  until  he  paused 
at  the  bank  near  the  plaza  where  he  moored  his  boat,  while 
he  and  Maria  went  to  the  padre  at  San  Fernando  Cathedral, 
rousing  the  pious  priest  from  his  sound  slumber  to  perform 
the  hymeneal  rite,  telling  the  priest  their  mission  was  such  it 
had  need  of  haste  lest  Maria's  proud  parent  intervene.  Not 
much  favoring  such  celerity  but  consenting,  knowing  the  lovers, 
bent,  the  padre  wedded  the  pair  and  took  the  fee  Alfonso  gave. 
It  he  freely  gave,  although  Alfonso  had  little  left  with  which 
to  dower  his  bride,  except  his  wealth  of  song  and  sonnet. 

Again  they  got  into  Alfonso's  waiting  boat.  Although 
he  was  skilled  in  the  use  of  the  oar,  so  consumed  with  joy, 
was  he  that  his  skill  and  care  was  forgotten.  As  the  boat 
reached  a  deep  whirlpool  near  Nueva  street,  in  Bowen's 
Bend  it  was  suddenly  overturned.  There  the  newly  wedded 
pair  were  caught  in  the  vortex,  which  swallowed  them  up. 

Three  days  later  Maria's  father  and  Alfonso's  friemls 
found  the  twain  clasped  in  each  other's  arms.  Thus  had  they 
died.  The  long  locks  of  deepest  black,  that  graced  Maria's 
crown  had  loosened  and  were  wound  about  her  and  her  lover's 
forms.  Her  Hps,  that  in  life  had  been  so  red  and  luscious, 
but  in  death  were  so  purple,  were  pressed  against  Alfonso's. 


86 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


So  firm  was  their  clasp  in  death  that  those  who  tried  to  sunder 
them  failed.  So  the  same  casket  and  a  single  grave  held  them 
united.     For  the  Padre  had  made  them  one.        So  had  fate. 

But  neither  Alfonso,  nor  Maria  were  the  river's  only 
victims,  nor  was  this  one  deep  whirlpool  the  only  death-dealing 
vortex.  vSome  were  drowned  who  went  to  swim  in  the  treacher- 
ous stream.  vSome  there  were  who  were  slain  and  thrown  into 
its    depths. 

One  of  those  was  the  aged  huntsman,  Maddox.  Jaques 
Handline,  who  was  hanged  for  the  crime  in  1879,  slew  Maddox. 
Some  there  were  who  sought  surcease  of  sorrow  in  the  river's 
inviting  depths  and  cast  themselves  into  the  river,  whose 
romances  and  tragedies  are  many — too  many  for  me  to  write, 
or  you  to  read,  for  men  and  maids  will  love  and  leap  from  life 
to  death  so   long   as   the   river  will   run. 


'-•^^S 


MRS.    EMILY    DE    ZAVAI.A 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        87 


A  MINE  OF   MORAL. 


A  man  who  believ'd  that  La  Fitte's  gold 
Was    buried    on    his    freehold 
With   zeal   dug   there   for   it   each    day 
'Til  thus  he'd  thrown  some  years  away. 
The    site,     tho.     of    his    ducat    field 
A    sad'ning    sight    one    day    reveal'd, 
For   there    he    found    an    empty   chest, 
He  thought  had  held  the  hoard  in  quest. 
And    near    it    found    a    silver    piece 
Made    many    years    before    in    Greece. 
So    he    believed    that    all    this    w^ealth 
Some  ruthless  rogue  had  gained  by  stealth. 
The    cause    of    all    his    grief   and    pain. 
Is    easy,    c|uite,    to    here    explain. 
The   boys   around   his   neighborhood, 
That    fellow's    hobby    understood, 
So  they,  as  all  boys  would  have  done, 
Resolv'd    to    eke    from    it    some    fun. 
They    chose    a    sombre,    stormy    night, 
When  clouds  obscured  fair  Luna's  light, 
To    bring    an    old,    worm-eaten    box. 
They  found   among  the   trash   and  rocks 
And  place  it   up   quite  close  and  snug 
Beside    the    pit    he    last    had    dug. 
Leaving    that    shekel    near    the    same 
To    better    back    their    little    game. 
Their  prank  then  had  one  good  effect. 
That    fellow's    hobby    on    it    wreck 'd. 
His  hope  of  wealth  passed  like  a  dream 
And  floated  down  dark  Lethe's  strean 

THE    MORAL 

of   the    rhyme    you've    read 
Is  just  what  some  sage  should  have  said: 
"One  should  not  think  to  find  a  penny 
Where  no  one  else  hath  hidden  any." 


88        Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


CHAPTER    VI. 

A    LEGEND    OF    LOST    LUCRE     INTERMINGLED    WITH     A    SERIES    OF 
TRAGEDIES     AND     A      WHOLE      MINE     OF     MORAL. 

Thirteen  was  the  unlucky  number  of  famihes  who  came 
from  the  Canary  Islands  to  San  Antonio  and  to  some  of  them 
bad  luck  came.  One  of  these  was  the  Rodriguez  family. 
One  of  their  number,  Francisco,  was  a  grandee  of  Spain. 
He  was  a  haughty  scion  of  her  austere  nobility.  He  is  said  to 
have  located  somewhere  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  head  of 
the  San  Pedro  in  which  neighborhood  some  of  the  descendants 
live.  There  is  a  legend  about  the  lucre  that  Don  Francisco 
Rodriguez  is  said  to  have  once  possessed,  that  was  told  me  by 
Don  Antonio  Menchaca.  This  legend  is  weird  and  fell  with 
grew.     It  runs  thus: 

Among  the  daughters  of  Don  Francisco  Rodriguez,  one, 
Dolores,  was  as  lovely  as  she  was  devout  and  gentle  as  she 
was  fair.  He  had  one  son  who  was  as  brave  as  his  sister  was 
good.  He  had  his  father's  name,  Francisco.  To  distinguish 
them  the  father  was  called  Don  Francisco,  the  son  Pancho. 
When  Spain's  king  still  claimed  dominion  over  San  Antonio 
and  its  province,  De  Bejar,  or  Bexar,  and  fighting  the  French 
for  supremacy,  this  son  was  a  soldier  and  bore  arms  under 
the    standard   of    the    Spanish    crown. 

Antonio  Cordero  was  a  young  captain  in  the  army  of 
Spain.  He  was  the  favored  suitor  of  Dolores.  Likewise  he 
was  a  descendant  and  namesake  of  a  former  Spanish  governor 
of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  who  had  been  beheaded  by  the 
order  of  the  King  of  Spain.  AVhile  the  troops  of  Spain  were 
struggling  against  the  French,  this  young  officer,  Antonio 
Cordero,  fell  under  suspicion  and  was  compelled  to  leave  after 
bidding  a  fond  farewell  to  Dolores.  Wishing  to  again  and 
soon  be  near  her,  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  invading  French 
marching   upon   San   Antonio. 

Young  Rodriguez  had  joined  the  Spanish  defenders  of 
his  natal  city  and  was  in  their  van  to  meet  the  onslaught  of 
their  French  foemen.  A  man  of  much  wealth  and  more  dis- 
cretion was  the  father,  Don  Francisco.  Several  chests  of 
vSpanish  doubloons  and  other  gold  and  silver  coin  he  is  said  to 
have  been  possessed  of.      Not  knowing  what  turn  affairs  might 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  I.mmortal  Heroes        89 

take,  nor  what  might  be  the  fate  of  the  city  or  his  estate  in 
case  the  ^merciless  mercurial  men  of  France  might  prevail 
over  the  sons  of  sunny  Spain,  nor  whether  the  Spaniards 
themselves  would  levy  a  "prestimo"  or  forced  loan  upon 
him  and  his  hoard,  sagely  Don  Francisco  decided  to  bury  his 
chests  and  coin.  This  stealthily  he  did  and  by  night.  None 
saw  him.  None  but  he  knew  where  his  treasure  was  hidden. 
Taking  no  one  into  his  confidence,  with  his  own  hands  he  dug 
the  ]:)it  in  which  he  stored  his  wealth,  that  none  might  find 
his    treasure    trench. 

Meanwhile,  Dolores  remained  at  home  with  her  father 
to  pray  for  him,  her  lover  and  her  brother's  safety.  Much 
anxiet}^  about  his  son  and  sunken  treasure  soon  sickened  old 
Don  Francisco.  His  confessor,  the  Padre,  who  often  came 
to  converse  with  him  after  his  siesta,  made  him  the  worse  by 
telling  him  he  would  never  see  his  boy  again  alive.  The 
Padre  did  not  tell  him  that  his  son  had  already  been  slain 
in  the  battle  in  which  he  had  fought  against  the  French.  This 
news  the  Padre  had  learned  from  the  courier  who  had  brought 
the  tidings  of  the  combat  to  the  Governor.  The  message 
was  that  the  battle  had  been  stern  and  long  with  much  blood 
spilled  and  little  gain  to  either  side.  Then  came  the  long  list 
of  those  who  were  hurt  or  slain.  Being  at  the  forefront,  young 
Francisco  was   among  the   first   to  fall. 

AVhile  the  Padre  was  silent,  not  so  the  servants.  As 
Don  Francisco  sat  at  his  meat  one  of  them  told  him  his 
son  was  slain.  Suddenly  then  Don  Francisco  fell  forward. 
He  asked  for  Dolores  before  his  spirit  fled  for  he  felt  his  end 
was  near.  He  wished  to  tell  her  where  his  treasure  lay.  But 
she  was  at  the  church  and  knelt  in  prayer.  None  of  the  other 
sons  or  daughters  of  the  Don  were  by  his  side.  When  Dolores 
returned   Don   Francisco   was   no   more. 

He  had  died,  taking  with  him  to  eternity  the  secret  of 
his  buried  wealth.  In  life  he  had  told  Dolores  some  day  she 
would  be  very  rich.  For  wealth  she  cared  naught  but  for 
her  lover  all  w^as  her  thought  now  that  her  father  and  her 
brother    both    were    gone. 

Dolores  did  not  know  that  both  her  brother  and  her  lover 
had  gone  down  to  death  together  in  a  deadly  duel  in  the  bat- 
tle of  the  French  and  Spanish  troops.  Long  and  vain  she 
waited  for  a  written  greeting  from  Antonio,  her  Cavalier,  for 
many  had   she  written  him.     Long  she  wept   and  often,  for 


90        Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

never  an  answer  came.  But  how  could  it,  while  he  was  stark 
and  slain?  She  did  not  know.  But  at  last  her  hope  was 
gone  and  then  her  health  gave  way.  With  long  vigils  by 
night  and  much  weeping  by  day  over  the  silence  of  her  lover 
and  the  death  of  her  father  at  last  she  pined  and  faded  away, 
although  the  pious  Padre  sought  to  comfort  and  hold  out 
hope  for  her  she  could  not  feel.  At  last  she  gently  sunk  to 
endless  sleep.     Beside  her  father's  her  grave  was  made. 

Then  came  many  searches  for  the  coin.  All  searched 
stealthily  and  under  the  sable  mantle  of  the  night.  All  searched 
in  vain.  None  ever  made  more  than  a  single  search.  The 
quests  of  all  but  booted  naught.  As  each  one  sought  the  treas- 
ure chests,  a  spectre  grim  stood  in  front  and  none  was  so  brave 
that  he  would  remain  to  dig  when  once  the  wraith  was  seen. 
Sometimes  the  spectre  revealed  was  that  of  the  decrepit 
Don.  Again  it  was  that  of  the  fragile  girl.  Next  it  was 
that  of  the  young  son.  Sometimes  it  was  the  lover's  shadow. 
In  pairs  sometimes  the  spectres  came  and  once  when  a  searcher, 
bolder  than  the  rest,  stayed  with  his  spade  longer  than  other 
delvers  had,  all  four  of  the  spectres  came  and  drove  him  away, 
chasing  him  even  to  the  threshold  of  his  door  and  warning 
him  to  never  dig  more  for  their  store  and  hoard. 

The  bony  hands  of  those  ethereal  shades,  always  pointed 
warningly  away  from  the  spot  where  the  searchers  stood. 
Through  their  shrouds,  the  skeletons  of  the  spectres  were 
seen.  Their  forms  would  float  about  and  melt  away.  All 
who  saw  were  filled  with  fear  nor  cared  to  see  again  such  un- 
canny sights,  so  all  who  once  went  to  seek  went  never  back 
again. 

Some  there  were  who  have  said  this  wealth  lies  hidden 
near  San  Pedro's  sparkling  springs  and  some  on  what  is  known 
as  "Treasure  Hill."  But  where  old  Don  Francisco  left  his 
ducats  and  doubloons  has  never  been  divulged,  and  they  are 
securely  hid. 

There  is  a  cavern  deep  and  dark  and  near  San  Pedro  park 
There  this  treasure  is  said  to  be,  but  all  knowledge  ot  this 
cavern's  trace  is  gone.  Into  its  mouth  a  hugest  one  was  rolled 
that  stopped  and  hid  its  orifice  from  view.  More  than  a 
generation  ago  a  last  effort  was  made  to  find  this  spot.  A 
woman  w4th  a  chart  came  there  with  several  men.  They 
are  said  to  have  found  and  rolled  away  the  stone  and  gone 
down  into  the  cave  taking  with  them  lights  and  food.     Within 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


91 


they  found  a  swollen  stream.  \Yhen  they  essayed  to  cross 
its  current  was  all  too  swift.  There  they  found  a  bottle  and 
some  wine.  As  they  drank  from  it  their  lights  burned  blue 
and  low  and  dim  and  out  of  the  crannies  of  the  cave  came 
the  spectres  and  then  the  woman  and  her  male  Cvscorts  fled 
fast  and  back  to  the  cavern's  mouth. 

And  others  went  to  this  selfsame  cave  and  down  within 
and  found  the  wine  and  flask.  There  were  snakes  and  wolves 
and  bats  all  there.  One  fired  to  kill  a  wolf.  As  he  fired  part 
of  the  cavern's  roof  fell  down.  Those  then  there  escaped 
unscathed  but  in  haste,  nor  went  again,  although  no  spectres 
came.     I  was  with  them  once,  but  cared  no  more  to  search. 

Untasted  was  the  wine;  Uncorked  its  flask  was  left. 
Another  band  of  bolder  ones  again  went  there.  Again  their 
lights  burned  blue  and  to  them  the  spectres  all  four  came. 
Even  to  the  cavern's  mouth  they  pursued.  There  they  held 
the  searchers  in  thrall  until  they  had  rolled  back  the  stone 
into  the  cavern's  mouth.  Since  then  no  others  there  have 
gone.  And  now  this  cave  is  lost.  This  treasure  still  evades 
all    quest. 


LORENZO    UE     ZAVAI.A 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        93 


CHAPTER  IX 

many  spacious  and  beautiful  parks  adorn  the  seductive 
city  of  san  antonio.      one  was  the  gift  of  a  spanish 
sovereign,     others    were    given    by 
generous    citizens. 

Next  to  her  historic  and  venerable  and  stately  structures 
San  Antonio  holds  as  one  of  her  great  charms  the  many 
beautiful,  spacious  and  well  kept  parks  that  adorn  this  se- 
ductive city.  They  measure  from  less  than  an  acre  to  several 
miles  in  area.  Some  are  triangular;  others  are  paralellograms 
and  still  others  have  no  similitudes  of  geometric,  trigonometric 
or  other  mathematical  topography. 

The  first  public  park,  or  "exido"  that  she  boasts  of  is  the  San 
Pedro  Park.  It  was  a  favor  of  royal  grant  from  the  hand  of  a 
reigning  sovereign  of  sunny  Spain.  The  seal  affixed  to  the  grant 
bears  date  of  the  year  1729.  This  was  nearly  two  centuries 
ago.  Then  it  was  much  larger  in  area  than  now.  That  city, 
only  by  compromising  with  numerous  litigants,  who  have  at 
various  times  filed  suits  to  assert  claims  to  it,  has  been  able 
to  save  to  her  populace  the  possession  of  its  present  dimension 
of  less  than  a  tenth  of  its  original  domain. 

It  is  located  immediately  at  the  head  waters  of  the  San 
Pedro  Creek,  whose  many  springs  form  the  source  of  that  once 
splendid,  but  now  insignificant  stream.  For  many  years 
this  park  formed  the  camping  grounds  of  troopers  and  travelers 
and  it  was  the  first  location  of  the  old  mission  of  San  Antonio 
de  Valero,  later  moved  to  the  middle  of  the  city  and  now 
known  as  the  Alamo  Mission  of  San  Antonio  de  Valero  on 
Alamo  Plaza.  The  original  location  was  an  oft  and  eagerly 
sought  spot  by  man  and  beast.  Its  sparkling  waters  assuaged 
their  thirst  when  both  were  weary  and  footsore. 

From  the  primitive  Red  Man,  who  pitched  his  tepee 
among  its  nooks,  to  the  present  sighing  swain  who  tells  his 
love  tale,  gently  pouring  it  into  the'  ear  of  blushing  maid  of 
the  present  century,  it  has  always  been  a  welcome  spot.  First 
to  come  there  was  the  Aztec,  next  the  Spanish  adventurer, 
then  the  French  Cavalier,  next  the  Mexican  settlers  and  then 
the  American  pioneer  and  finally  the  Texan  patriot  and  his 
northern  brother,  the  homeseeker. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        95 

But  all,  up  to  and  including  the  advent  of  the  American 
soldier,  had  to  fight  and  make  a  stern  struggle  for  supremacy 
against  the  sturdy  savage  who  disputed  its  possession  and 
rightly  claimed  first  title.  Even  as  late  as  the  latter  61) 's 
and  early  70 's  of  the  last  century  he  kindled  his  council  fires 
where  he  made  his  primal  claim  and  until  his  ultimate  exter- 
mination. Beneath  the  broad  spreading  branches  of  the 
trees  and  all  about  the  spots  where  he  dwelt  even  now 
may  be  found  the  flint  tipped  arrows  he  made  and  fought 
with  until  he  went  down  undaunted  to  defeat. 

Many  sanguinary  scenes  have  been  enacted  there.  From 
the  time  the  Aborigines  strove  among  themselves  for  supremacy 
of  their  different  tribes  on  through  their  contestswith  the  pale- 
face throng  that  finally  crowded  the  Indian  off  the  earth  and 
down  to  the  day  it  became  the  plaisance  for  the  populace  of  a 
splendid  city,  there  many  scenes  of  slaughter  were  enacted. 
Even    since    several    tragedies    have    occurred    there. 

This  park  has  also  played  its  part  and  been  prominent 
in  history.  It  was  from  the  first  a  war-like  camp.  Here  the 
Spanish  soldiers  first  to  come  with  Cortez,  bivouacked  here; 
the  soldiers  of  the  sanguinary  Santa  Anna  slumbered  with 
their  escopetas  in  their  grasp.  Here  the  Texas  Ranger  after 
the  birth  of  the  Lone  Star  Republic  began  to  shine,  staked 
his  steed  and  slept  lightly  beneath  the  broad  shade  of  the 
stately  trees.  On  his  way  to  battle  with  his  brother  of  the 
North,  in  the  great  fratricidal  struggle  of  the  Civil  War,  the 
Confederate  soldier  had  his  camp,  while  in  turn,  after  that 
terrible  struggle  had  ended  his  victorious  adversary  pitched 
his   tentage. 

It  was  here  and  at  the  head  of  the  San  Antonio  river 
that  the  great  cholera  scourge  of  1869  dealt  death  in  more 
horrible  form  and  decimated  the  Federal  ranks,  leaving  many 
to  their  eternal  slumber  after  white  winged  peace  spread  her 
snowy  pinions  above  the  hallowed  dead.  Now  the  living 
are  re-united  in  a  grand  brotherhood,  intermingled  in  which 
are  those  who  had  donned  the  blue  and  those  who  had  doficd 
the  grey. 

Here  the  Aboriginal  Indian  will  be  seen  nevermore,  but 
the  mute  testimony  of  his  former  presence  is  often  found 
in  the  shape  of  his  rude  and  crude  pottery,  frequently  un- 
earthed about  the  springs  where  his  camp  fires  burned  and 
his  spears  and  arrows  yet  may  be  picked  up  at  its  base  wlicrc 


CO.MBATS    AND    CONQUESTS    OF    ImMORTAL    HeROES  97 

he  hurled  them  against  the  old  building  still  standing  on  the 
brow  of  the  hill  overlooking  the  sparkling  waters.  It  was 
through  the  loopholes  of  this  building,  still  to  be  seen 
standing  there,  that  its  defenders  fired  upon  the  cruel  Com- 
anche and  the  still  more  barberous  Apache.  The  arrows, 
spears  and  pottery  are  mute  evidences  of  the  departed  Indian, 
while  the  loopholes  of  this  low  squat  structure  scarred  and 
fractured  by  the  miissiles  striking  there,  testify  to  the  valor 
of  the  successful  defenders  and  the  edifice  itself  is  a  monument 
to  courageous  heroes  who  contended  there.  Although  the^r 
names  have  never  been  written  on  the  pages  of  history,  their 
bravery  was  as  valliant  as  any  that  chivalry  may  boast. 

Until  a  few  years  ago,  this  naturally  beautiful  park  was 
left  almost  in  the  state  that  Nature  originally  formed  it,  but 
when  Marshall  Hicks  became  the  mayor  of  San  Antonio  his 
administration  expended  a  considerable  sum  in  improving 
and  giving  it  additional  beauty  and  added  charms,  among 
them  the  extensive  zoological  collection  to  be  found  there, 
probably  the  most  extensive  in  the  South. 

Within  the  writer's  memory  this  lovely  resort  has  been 
in  the  custody  of  the  following  well  known  citizens  of  San 
Antonio,  all  deceased:  Louis  Duerler,  whose  tragic  death 
forms  a  sad  page  in  her  history,  Major  I.  N.  Lerich,  Captain 
Fred  Kerble,  Franz  Krisch  and  Joseph  Cooley,  while  beside 
the  present  incumbent  a  former  one,  C.  B.  Hice  is  still  living. 

But  the  greatest  park  in  area  and  most  beautiful  expanse 
is  that  known  as  Brackenridge  park.  It  is  the  most  magnifi- 
cent gift  by  George  W.  Brackenridge,  John  J.  Stevens.  Frank 
Grice,  Ferd  HerfT,  Sr.,  Eleanor  A.  Stribbling,  Henry  B.  Andrews 
and  their  associates  of  the  San  Antonio  waterworks,  taking  its 
name  from  the  first  mentioned  who  was  the  owner  of  its  domain 
prior  to  its  aquirement  by  the  Waterworks  Company.  It 
iDcars  favorable  comparison  with  the  famous  Golden  Gate  Park 
of  San  Francisco  and  is  of  greater  area  than  either  Central  park 
of  New  York,  or  Lincoln  Park  of  Chicago.  It  has  been  but 
little  changed  from  its  virgin  forest  state,  although  some  arti- 
ficial beauty  spots  planted  in  foliage  and  flowers  are  scattered 
about  it.  In  it  roam  over  considerable  areas  devoted  to  their 
occupancy  considerable  herds  of  buffalo,  elk  and  deer,  while 
aquatic  fowls  and  other  birds  abound  there.  Many  speci- 
mens of  peacocks,  pheasants,  swans  and  other  shapely  feather- 
ed creatures  flock  and  mate  there,  while  the  songsters  in  its 


98        Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

trees  till  the  air  with  their  melody.  Many  sturdy  trees  stand 
there,  the  oak,  cypress,  pecan  and  hackberry.  Among  them 
and  threading  its  way  gracefully  like  a  silvery  ribbon  about 
the  shapely  form  of  a  fair  woman,  the  San  Antonio  river  flows. 
Its  source  is  found  in  the  many  bold  flowing  springs  located 
in  the  Eden-like  tract  adjoining  it,  the  former  home  of  Mr. 
Brackenridge,  now  that  of  the  religious  order  of  the  Incarnate 
Word.  It  was  there,  more  than  a  quarter  century  ago,  that 
this  writer,  while  a  guest  of  Mr.  Brackenridge,  wrote  the  poem 
entitled  "The  San  Antonio  River,"  published  on  another  page 
of  this  book.  Here  Wm.  C  Sullivan,  a  dutiful  son,  has  built 
a  shrine  as  a  memorial  to  his  mother. 

The  beauties  of  this  stream  and  park  well  deserve  to  be 
perpetuated  in  song  and  story,  as  in  their  primitive  state 
ere  the  hand  of  man  had  touched  them,  their  beauty  has  been 
superb  and  is  greatly  enhanced  in  portions  where  adornment 
by  the  modern  landscape  gardener  has  worked.  .When  the 
icy  hand  of  winter  touches  and  withers  the  plants  and  flowers 
of  parks  in  other  places  those  here  are  perennial,  shedding 
their  fragrance  and  marshalling  their  beauty  before  the  hosts 
of  visitors  to  them. 

But  there  are  many  other  beautiful  parks  in  this  city. 
Among  these  is  Travis  Park,  where  the  patriotic  members  of 
Barnard  E.  Bee  Chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy 
have  placed  the  statue  to  the  "Lost  Cause"  and  aptly  inscribed 
with  Kipling's  motto:  "Lest  We  Forget,"  Moses,  Jones,  Callag- 
han,  Pawly,  Franklin  and  Selligson  all  being  interesting  beauty 
and  breathing  spots. 

Milam  square  is  another.  Here  repose  finally  the  remains 
of  the  hero  of  the  Veramendi  and  he  who  won  San  Antonio 
from  the  thrall  of  the  Mexican  commander  Cos,  Ben  R.  Milam. 
His  grave  is  in  its  center,  eight  feet  east  of  where  the  present 
truncated  grey  granite  monument  placed  there  by  the  De 
Zavalla  Chapter  of  the  Daughters  of  the  Texas  Revolution 
stands.  This  grave  was  first  marked  by  a  long  rough  ashler 
placed  there  by  the  late  General  John  R.  Baylor  and  other 
admirers.  It  bore  the  simple  inscription:  "Ben  R.  Milam." 
A  building  contractor  once  made  an  attempt  to  steal  this  stone, 
but  was  stopped  by  Captain  Phillip  Shardein,  then  city  marshal, 
who  talked  to  him  so  plainly  that  this  person  never  attempted 
to  steal  another  grave-stone.  The  excuse  he  gave  when  called 
to  task  was  he  thought  the  stone  had  fallen   from    one   of  his 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  ImmortaI  Heroes        99 

wagons  on  its  way  between  the  city  and  the  San  Geronimo 
quarry,  but  great  was  his  confusion  when  his  attention  was 
directed  to  the  inscription.  Camden  and  Madison  Square 
have  fine  parks  and  the  Washington  Square  is  also  a  pretty 
one.  There  are  numerous  other  very  pretty  but  small  sized 
ones  like  the  Maverick  Park  at  Tenth  Stret,  but  two  of  the 
very  beautiful  parks  of  this  city  are  those  on  two  of  its  princi- 
pal plazas,  Main  and  Alamo.  Both  of  these  originally  were 
nothing  but  mud  holes,  when  one  of  the.  city  Aldermen,  the 
late  A.  Wulff,  who  owned  what  was  known  as:  "Wulff's  Castle" 
on  King  William  street,  conceived  the  idea  and  obtained 
the  commission  of  beautifying  them.  The  grounds  about  his 
"Castle"  have  been  adorned  by  him  and  were  considered  for 
many  years  as  the  handsomest  in  the  city.  His  work  with 
these  two  parks  was  so  successful  that  he  was  appointed  the 
first  city  park  commissioner  of  San  Antonio  during  the  regime 
of  the  late  honorable  mayor  James  H.  French.  Under  him 
for  a  number  of  years  the  parks  of  the  city  received  needed 
attention  and  added  beauty  was  given  them. 

He  was  succeeded  by  L.  W.  Madarasz,  whose  efficient 
efforts  directed  to  his  mother's  magnificent  estate  adjoining 
that  of  Mr.  Brackenridge  had  previously  accomplished  much 
in  the  way  of  scenic  improvement.  But  probably  the  principal 
and  master  hand  in  the  management  and  beautifying  of  San 
Antonio's  parks  was  that  of  the  late  Ludwig  Mahncke,  to 
whom  a  grateful  people  have  erected  a  bronze  monument 
near  the  center  of  Brackenridge  park  and  have  also  named 
one  of  their  spacious  parks  for  him.  Mahncke  found  much  to 
be  done.  His  most  efficient  efforts  were  those  given  to  Bracken- 
ridge Park,  but  all  of  the  many  parks  of  San  Antonio  came 
under  his  direct  attention  and  personal  touch.  He  planted 
palms  and  flowers,  shrubs  and  trees,  grass  and  ferns.  Although 
he  is  dead,  even  the  very  trees  nodding  in  the  brisk  Gulf 
breeze  seem  to  speak  his  name  as  they  bow  about  his  monu- 
ment. 

After  him  came  Hansel  and  others,  good  in  their  work. 
but  none  compare  with  the  master  hand  of  Mahncke.  but 
now  forever  still. 


100      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


CHAPTER  X 

many  and   mammoth  caves  found  in   and  about    SAN    ANTONIO 

THEY   HAVE   THEIR   HISTORIES — SOME    WITH    TRAGIC    ONES. 

A    STOLEN    CHURCH    ORGAN     HIDDEN    IN    ONE. 

Tn  and  about  the  parks  and  about  San  Antonio  are  to 
be  found  some  caves  of  great  interest,  a  number  of  them 
being  mammoth  ones,  whose  entire  expanses  have  never  been 
thoroughly  explored.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  when  they  shall 
have  been  explored  they  will  compare  favorably  with  the 
Mammoth  Cave  of  Kentucky  and  probably  reach,  if  not  exceed, 
its  area  and  length. 

At  San  Pedro  park  the  water  flowing  from  the  orifice 
at  the  eastern  end  of  the  lakelet  comes  from  a  cave  whose 
dimensions  have  never  been  defined,  while  in  the  same  park 
either  the  same  or  another  cave  was  recently  discovered  by 
some  of  the  city  workmen  while  blasting  stone  in  the  north- 
east part.  In  it  were  found  the  skeletons  of  Indians  of 
huge  stature,  some  exceeding  seven  feet  in  height. 

Besides  these  skeletons  were  found  some  stone  pottery  and 
a  number  of  arrow  heads  as  well  as  stone  spear  heads 
and  other  relics  of  a  portion  of  a  tribe  of  an  aboriginal  race. 
This  race  evidently  had  its  burial  ground  in  this  portion  of 
the  cave,  which  may  also  be  one  of  the  numerous  chambers 
of  the  treasure  cave  mentioned  in  another  chapter  of  this 
book.  About  ten  years  previous  to  this  time  another  clus- 
ter of  corpses  or  the  bones  of  human  beings  of  similar  size  and 
with  the  same  character  of  relics  were  unearthed  in  the 
same  immediate  vicinity  by  another  gang  of  the  City's  work- 
men while  blasting  the  rock  in  this  park. 

Through  the  center  of  the  cave  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  San  Pedro  Park  there  runs  a  boldly  flowing  stream  of  water 
about  20  feet  in  width  and  directly  towards  the  point  from 
whence  the  springs  forming  the  San  Pedro  river  emerge. 
This  is  another  indication  that  the  water  supplying  those 
springs  and  forming  that  stream  comes  through  this  cave 
and  probably  companions  of  it  at  greater  or  less  distances  north 
of  the  San  Pedro  springs.  The  mouth  of  this  cave  has  been 
hermetically  sealed  by  a  stone  of  very  large  size  and  great 
weight  being    placed     in    it    which    those  who    know     its    lo- 


Combats  and  Conquest.s  of  Immortal  Heroes         101 

cation  have  been  unable  to  remove.  Captain  Fred  Bader, 
recently  deceased,  who  had  partially  explored  it  with  Andrew 
Bonnet  and  several  others  in  quest  of  supposed  buried  trea- 
sure there,  went  back  some  time  later  to  complete  the  explora- 
tion with  another  party.  This  they  were  unable  to  accomplish 
on  account  of  the  immense  boulder  lodging  there  that  clogged 
its  mouth. 

But  a  short  distance  northeast  of  this  cave  is  another, 
but  very  small  one  with  a  single  chamber  about  ten  feet  square 
and  eight  or  nine  feet  high.  In  what  was  formicrly  a  pasture 
of  Dr.  F.  Herff.  Sr.  now  a  portion  of  one  of  the  City's  northeast 
suburbs  is  another  cave,  which  when  I  visited  it  twice,  had 
two  entrances  and  three  rooms.  One  of  these  entrances  and 
the  greatest  in  width  but  only  about  eighteen  inches  at 
its  widest  point,  was  almost  perpendicular  and  difficult  to 
to  traverse,  while  the  other  ran  at  an  angle  of  about  45  degrees 
and  was  so  small  that  it  was  difficult  to  pass  through.  Its  cham- 
bers were  about  50  feet  below  the  two  entrances  to  this 
cave.  One  was  rather  large,  probably  about  forty  feet  long 
by  thirty  broad  and  fifteen  high.  The  other  two  were  both 
small,  one  about  ten  and  the  other  about  twelve  feet  broad 
and  of  irregular  shape.  The  two  smaller  chambers  were  about 
half  filled  with  guano,  myriads  of  bats  having  made  it  their 
roosting  place  for  many  years.  The  large  chamber  was  the 
lair  of  coyotes  and  lobo  wolves,  one  of  which  was  killed  in 
this  chamber,  but  when  the  shot  was  fired  that  killed  it, 
the  explosion  dislodged  a  large  stone  in  the  roof  that  fell  in 
dangerous  close  proximity  to  the  party  then  exploring  the 
cave,  all  of  whose  members  were  nearly  deafened  by  the  con- 
cussion produced  by  the  discharge  of  the  weapon.  All  about 
this  cave  were  scattered  the  bones  of  fowls  and  animals  brought 
their  cave  and  devoured  by  the  wolves.  I  suppose  since 
the  new^  addition  to  the  city  has  been  opened  up  in  this  lo- 
cality that  this  cave  has  been  closed  up  and  lost  irretrievably. 

There*  is  another  and  a  very  small  cave  very  near 
the  head  of  the  San  Antonio  river  close  to  the  road  leading 
to  the  largest  and  main  spring  forming  the  source  of  the  San 
Antonio  river  and  called  the  "Rattlesnake  Cave"  because 
of  the  many  of  these  deadly  vipers  infesting  it.  It  was  for- 
merly frequented  and  occupied  by  the  Comanche  and  A])ache 
Indians  on  their  raids  to  this  vicinity  and  taken  jjossession 
of  by  the  snakes  when  the  savages  were  run  out  of  the  country. 


102      Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

A  very  interesting  cave  is  the  one  known  as  "The  Robbers" 
Cave"  located  about  20  miles  northwest  of  those  in  San  Antonio 
and  not  very  far  from  Leon  Springs.  It  takes  its  name  from 
a  gang  of  outlaws  whose  leaders  w^as  known  as  Jim  Pitts.  This 
gang  operated  extensively  for  about  100  miles  around  San 
Antonio  and  this  cave  was  their  rendezvouz.  They  robbed 
country  postoffices,  stores,  stages  and  even  churches.  The. 
musical  instrument,  or  organ,  belonging  to  a  church  not  very 
far  from  this  cave  was  stolen  by  this  gang.  The  mouth  of 
the  cave  was  large  enough  to  enable  the  robbers,  who  emulated 
the  example  of  the  famous  thirty-nine  followers  of  AH  Baba, 
mentioned  in  the  Arabian  Knights,  to  remove  and  hide  this 
church   organ  within  its  recesses. 

This  cave  has  never  been  fully  explored  and  it  is  not 
unlikely  it  is  many  miles  long  and  in  some  places  very  broad. 
A  dog  that  chased  a  rabbit  into  it  was  gone  for 
three  days  and  emerged  nine  miles  from  the  point  he  entered. 
When  found  the  animal  was  nearly  famished  and  exhausted. 
This  gang  of  robbers,  during  the  regime  of  the  late  lamented 
and  gifted  Hal  Gosling,  as  United  States  marshal  of  this  dis- 
trict, was  broken  up,  most  of  its  members  having  been  cap- 
tured and  carried  to  Austin,  where  some  of  them,  Pitts  among 
the  number,  were  given  life  sentences.  Gosling,  ever  kind 
hearted  and  considerate,  lost  his  life  by  doing  Pitts  an  act 
of  kindness.  Pitts  and  some  of  the  others  of  his  gang,  after 
conviction,  were  being  brought  from  Austin  to  San  Antonio 
by  Gosling,  who  ]3ermitted  Pitts  to  sit  beside  his  wife.  While 
on  the  train  Pitts  got  hold  of  a  pistol  with  which  he  shot  Gosling, 
killing  him  instantly  just  as  the  train  was  nearing  the  Gua- 
dalupe river  bridge  at  the  edge  of  New  Braunfels.  Pitts  and 
one  of  his  comrades  jumped  from  the  train,  but  Pitts,  who 
was  shot  by  its  conductor,  was  mortally  wounded  and  died 
in  the  brush  near  the  bridge.  His  companion,  with  a  stone 
mashed  the  wrist  of  Pitts  so  as  to  get  one  of  the  handcuffs 
loose.  This  companion  was  captured  shortly  afterward  by 
Deputy  Sheriff  Edward  Stevens  and  others  of  a  posse  which 
went  in  pursuit  of  him,  and  still  had  the  handcuifs  dangling 
from   his    own   wrist. 

Not  very  far  from  the  "Robbers'  Cave"  in  the  Leon  Springs 
neighborhood  is  another,  which  has  at  least  one  if  not  more 
than  one  tragedy  connected  with  it.  In  it  was  accidentally 
found  the  skeleton- of  a  man  w^ho  had  been  murdered  and 


Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      WS 

his  body  thrown  into  this  cave.  The  person  making  the  dis- 
covery came  very  near  losing  his  own  life.  Just  as 
he  saw  the  skeleton  and  was  going  closer  to  it,  a  large  .rattle- 
snake struck  at  him  burying  its  fangs  in  the  thick  leather  chaps, 
or  leggings,  he  wore.  This  saved  him.  He  shot  the  snake 
with  a  pistol  he  had  and  then  proceeded  to  take  a  close  view 
of  the  skeleton  after  which  he  went  at  once  to  a  coroner  and 
reported  the  finding  of  the  skeleton.  It  proved  to  be  that 
of  a  man  named  Harris  who  was  an  important  witness  in  a 
criminal  case.  Harris  disappeared  shortly  before  it  was  time 
for  his  testimony  to  be  heard.  The  body  was  indentified  from 
gold  filling  in  the  teeth  of  the  skull.  Harris  died  literally 
with  his  boots  on  and  the  bones  of  his  feet  and  lower  portion 
of  his  legs  were  found  in  the  boots  and  removed  from  them. 

These  bones  and  boots  were  kept  for  some  time  in  the 
.sheriff's  office  at  the  old  Court  House  in  San  Antonio  where 
many  curiously  inclined  persons  inspected  them  and  were  horri- 
fied with  the  sight.  Harris  had  disappeared  several  years 
before  his  bones  were  found  in  the  cave. 

Another  cave  murder  mystery  was  solved  but  a  short 
time  after  the  crime  had  been  committed,  which  was  connec- 
ted with  a  cave  close  to  Van  Raub,  about  nine  miles  north 
of  Leon  Springs.     This  is  the  story  of  the  tragedy: 

Cypriano  Hernandez,  a  young  Mexican  shepherd,  some 
time  before  had  eloped  with  and  wedded  a  very  pretty  young 
senorita  of  the  neighborhood.  Shortly  after  the  nuptial 
rites  uniting  them  had  been  performed  the  groom  disappeared 
as  if  the  earth  had  opened  up 'and  swallowed  him.  It  had. 
His  young  bride  for  a  few  days  was  inconsolable.  But  only 
for  a  few  days.  A  former  lover,  w^hose  suit  had  been  favored 
by  her  parents,  disappeared  with  her  in  her  second  elopement. 
Not  many  days  afterward  a  sudden  storm  coming  up,  some 
shepherds  drove  their  flock  into  a  cave.  vSoon  after  enter- 
ing it  they  were  surprised  at  their  collie  dogs  acting  very  strange 
and  especially  one  that  had  belonged  to  Hernandez.  The 
dogs  kept  coming  to  the  goat  herds  and  then  running  back  into 
the  recesses  of  the  cave  until  the  latter  followed  Hernandez's 
dog  which  guided  them  to  his  corpse.  It  was  in  an  advanced 
state  of  decomposition  but  easily  identified  by  the  clothing 
and  other  objects.  The  same  functionary  who  had  united 
Hernandez  in  wedlock  to  his  bride  held  the  inquest  over 
his   corpse.     Van    Raub   was   his   name.     The    faithless   l^ride 


104      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

and  her  levanting  lover  have  ever  since  been  sought  in  vain 
by  the   law.     Probably  they   disappeared   into   Mexico. 

In  most  of  these  caves  in  this  region  and  especially  in 
those  where  water  percolates  downward  many  curious 
and  beautiful  colonades  and  broken  columns  of  stalagmites 
and  stalactites  of  weird  form  are  to  be  found  that  when  lights 
are  brought  into  the  caves  cause  their  rays  to  be  reflected, 
reminding  one  of  that  portion  of  the  poet,  Gray's  elegy  saying: 
"Full  many  a  gem  of  purest  ray  serene 
The  dark,  unfathomed  caves  of  ocean  bear." 
Dazzling  the  eyes  of  beholders  and  reminding  them  of  the 
descriptions  of  the  enchanted  caves  in  "Spencer's  Fairy  Tales," 
or  Jules  Verne's  "Twenty  Thousand  Leagues  Under  the  Sea," 
and    kindred    fiction. 


QUAINT  OLD  QUINTA 

HISTORIC     HOUSE     WHERE     ARREDONDO,     TYRANNICAL      SPANIARD 

CONFINED  WOMEN,  COMPELLING  THEM  TO  GRIND  CORN  AND 

COOK    BREAD    TO    FEED    HIS    TROOPS. 

One  of  the  many  historic  houses  in  San  Antonio  is  the 
quaint  old  "Quinta,"  a  name  given  it  probably  because  it 
served  as  the  barracks  for  the  Fifth  Company  of  Spanish  soldiers. 
It  belonged  to  the  Curbelo  family  of  Canary  Island  settlers. 
In  it  was  perpetrated  one  of  the  crudest  persecutions  of  a 
number  of  prominent  San  Antonio  women  by  the  tyranical 
Spanish  general,  Arredondo,  who  on  August  20,  1813,  arrived 
in  San  Antonio  at  the  head  of  5,000  troops  sent  to  quell  a  revo- 
lutionary  uprising. 

These  revolutionists  had  previously  beheaded  the  gover- 
nor of  the  province  of  Bexar  Saucedo,  to  avenge  the  death  of 
a  former  governor,  Delgado,  whom  the  Spaniards  had  deposed 
because  he  was  said  to  have  sympathized  with  the  revolu- 
tionists, who  had  likewise  beheaded  a  previous  governor,  An- 
tonio Cordero,  whose  head,  together  with  that  of  Saucedo, 
the  revolutionists  had  displayed  at  the  top  of  tall  poles  set 
up  in  the  center  of  the  Plaza  de  las  Armas,  where  the  City 
Hall  now  stands  on  Military  Plaza. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      105 

On  his  way  to  the  city  Arredondo  had  captured  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  men  of  the  revolutionary  party.  These 
he  had  tried  by  summary  process,  dooming  them  to  speedy 
death.     He  had  his  soldiers  kill  them  in  relays  of  ten,  each 


JOHN     BOWEN,     FIRST    POSTMASTER    OF    SAN     ANTONIO     DURING     TEXAS     REPUBLIC.    OWNEK    OF    BOWKN 

PENINSULA     AND     FAMOUS     OLD     nl'INTA. 

relay  of  that  number  being  placed  in  sitting  posture  on  a  log 
spanning  a  narrow  trench  or  shallow  pit  that  formed  the  com- 
mon grave  of  all.  The  victims  fell  into  it  as  fast  as  the  detail 
of    executioners    fired,    the    log    being    moved    a   short    dis- 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      107 

tance  after  each  relay  bad  been  dispatched  until  the  entire 
number  was  slain. 

This  was  hardly  half  the  number  whom  he  had  killed 
soon  after  Arredondo  entered  the  city.  Here  he  took  over 
three  hundred  male  prisoners  and  quite  a  large  number  of 
female  ones.  The  entire  300  males  he  packed  closely  into  a 
single  structure.  They  were  so  densely  squeezed  therein 
that  18  of  them  perished  the  first  night  of  incarceration.  The 
balance  were  tried  and  executed  in  coteries  from  a  dozen  to 
twenty,  the  method  of  their  trial  and  execution  being  identical 
with  that  of  the  175  slain  on  the  Medina  River. 

The  women  were  not  slaughtered.  They,  however,  were 
subjected  to  all  manner  of  indignities  and  to  shameful  con- 
tumely. Most  of  them  were  either  the  mothers,  wives  or  other 
relatives  of  those  actively  engaged  in  the  revolution  or  sup- 
posed to  have  been  in  sympathy  with  it.  These  women  were 
confined  in  this  "Quinta"  building  under  a  strong  guard,  where 
they  were  compelled  to  grind  corn  into  "tortillas,"  or  ash  cakes, 
to  feed  the  Spanish  soldiers. 

Arredondo  paid  frequent  visits  to  the  place  and  often 
personally  insulted  the  prisoners.  On  one  such  occasion  a 
woman,  who  was  greatly  outraged  by  an  affront  which  had- 
been  offered  her  by  one  of  the  soldiers  remonstrated  with  Arre- 
dondo, who  drew  his  sword  and  struck  her  with  the  flat  part 
of  it  across  her  bare  shoulders.  This  woman  sprang  at  him 
like  a  tigress  and  begged  to  be  given  a  sword.  She  offered 
if  one  should  be  given  her  to  tie  one  of  her  hands  behind  her 
back  and  fight  Arredondo  a  duel  to  the  death.  All  of  the 
other  women  in  the  Quinta  also  rushed  upon  Arredondo,  who 
only  escaped  by  precipitate  flight,  as  they  spat  upon  him  and 
jeered  in  derision.  When  he  got  outside  he  slunk  discreetly 
from  the   scene. 

Soon  after  a  mob  formed  about  the  building  determined 
despite  the  soldiers  to  liberate  the  women.  They  attacked  the 
soldiers  with  sticks,  stones  and  any  other  weapon  they  could 
obtain,  slaying  over  a  dozen  of  the  numerous  guard,  some  of 
the  soldiers  being  thrown  into  the  river  and  drowned  in  a  deep 
whirlpool  back  of  the  adjoining  or  Groesbeck  place,  this 
whirlpool  at  that  time  being  a  very  deadly  place  in  the  river. 

Realizing  the  incarceration  of  the  women  had  greatly 
incensed  the  populace  and  fearing  that  he,  in  consequence 
of  it,  would  be  assassinated,  Arredondo  sent  the  priests  to  re- 


108      Combats  and  ConouesTvS  of  Immortal  Heroes 

monstrate  with  the  mob  and  promised  if  it  would  disperse 
he  would  liberate  the  prisoners.  The  mob  insisted  on  their 
being  freed  first.  This  being  done  it  dispersed.  The  entire 
time  he  was  here  Arredondo  was  in  constant  dread  of  assassi- 
nation, as  just  retribution  for  the  innumerable  cruelties  and 
butcheries  he  perpetrated  on  different  members  of  the  populace, 
over  500  of  whom  m.et  death  in  various  ways  under  orders 
issued  by  him,  within  less  than  a  fortnight. 

There  have  been  great  floods  of  the  San  Antonio  and  [San 
Pedro  rivers  which  did  great  damage  and  caused  considerable 
loss  of  life.  The  first  mentioned  in  history  appears  to  have  oc- 
curred July  5,  1817,  according  to  a  report  by  Antonio  Martinez, 
then  governor  of  the  Bexar  province  to  the  Intendant  at  San 
Louis,  Potosi.  In  this  report  is  given  a  list  of  the  houses  dam- 
aged and  swept  away.  It  speaks  of  many  of  the  inhabitants 
being  victims  of  the  deluge  caused  by  a  cloudburst  above 
the  village  and  concludes  by  stating  that  a  number  of  the 
residents,  whose  homes  had  been  swept  away,  were  left  desti- 
tute, a  charge  upon  the  community.  This  flood  also  destroyed 
growing  crops  and  left  the  land  unfit  for  cultivation  for  some 
time.  It  also  drowned  besides  human  beings,  inany  cattle, 
horses,  sheep,  goats,  domestic  animals  and  fowls.  The  inunda- 
tion for  the  time  being  prevented  the  sale  of  a  considerable 
quantity  of  land  and  a  number  of  dwellings  that  had  been 
confiscated  by  the  government  from  previous  owners  who 
w^ere  alleged  to  have  taken  part  in  a  revolution. 

Out  of  this  confiscation  the  celebrated  vSabrigo  law-suit 
grew,  this  suit  being  based  on  the  confiscation  title  given  pur- 
chasers from  the  Government  under  it,  the  suits  being  filed 
against  those  who  held  it  under  the  original  title  granted  by 
the   vSpanish   Crown. 

Since  this  flood  several  others  have  occurred  within  the 
past  century  in  which  the  two  streams  mentioned  have  met 
and  the  principal  plazas  and  streets  as  well  as  the  most  of 
the  central  portion  of  the  city  were  completely  covered  with 
water  ranging  in  depth  from  a  few  inches  to  several  feet.  Num- 
erous dwellings  were  destroyed  and  many  people  perished 
in  each  flood,  but  the  practice  of  confining  the  flow  of  both 
streams,  and  notably  the  San  Antonio  river  has  continued 
to  prevail,  although  each  time  there  has  been  a  flood  after 
constriction  of  the  current  the  devastation  has  increased. 
Ordinarily   now   there   is   but   little   water,    hardly   enough   to 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      1(39 

make  either  stream  flow  or  show  a  current.  When  there  is  a 
cloudburst  north  of  the  city  the  water  from  the  Olmos,  a 
stream  usually  dry  is  brought  in  a  torrent  to  the  San  Antonio 
River.  Cupidity  of  persons  eager  to  acquire  riparian  property 
have  caused  the  narrowing  of  the  stream  and  the  constriction 
of  its  current.  '-  he  prediction  has  been  made  by  aged  prophets, 
witnesses  of  previous  deluges,  that  the  next  flood  to 
visit  the  city  will  be  like  the  one  at  Monterey  a  short  time 
since  and  will  involve  great  loss  of  life  and  property. 


GRIZZLY=GRIP. 


The  scene  a   tent  where   miners  camp. 

A  group  the  "ardent"  sip, 
With    one,    a    stranger,    just    arriv'd. 

The  place  is  Grizzly-Grip. 
The    stranger    asks    a    miner,     grim. 

Concerning  one  nam'd  Sy. 
That    miner    spins    this    spicy    sketch 

As  they  consume  their  "rye." 

"Yes,   we  know'd  wSy.     We  larnt  his  ways, 

Tho    he    was    sort'er    sly. 
"Thar   never  warn't   no   meaner   skunk 

Than    that    same    sinner,    Sy. 
"We   struck   this   lead    on   Grizzly-Grip 

And  then   had   skads  of  dust, 
But  Sy  came  in  and  scooped  our  tin, 

While   we   rub'd    off   the   rust. 

"For    we    were    green    as    collard    tops. 

And  Sy  were  sooner  stuff. 
And,    tho    we    hilt    the    highest    hands. 

Sy    yank'd    us    on    the    1)1  uff. 
"But  scamps  like  Sy  bucks  onc't  too  much 

Agin  that  game  of  'draw' 
And   when   they   do,    it   does   me   good 

To    see    them    sent    to    taw. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes       111 

"Sy    struck    across    a    gawky    cuss 

That    look'd    so    awful    raw — 
He    was    the    greenest    looking    cuss 

Sy   almost    ever   saw. 
"But  when  he  played  his  poker  game. 

He    warn't    that    awful    green, 
But    what    he    know'd    a    sorter    dodge 

As    Sv    had    never    seen. 


"Sy  lost  the  stakes,  which  got  him  ril'd 

And    awful    loud    Sy    swore. 
"That  ril'd  the  chap  as  took  the  chips 

Prehaps    a    leetle    more. 
"Then,  for  a  bluff,  Sy  said:  'We'll  shoot' 

To    try    the    greener's    pluck. 
But    thar   wuz    whar   vSy   fool'd   his-self 

And    vSpil'd    his    run    of    luck. 


"That    chap    he    hail'd   from    Arkinsaw 

And    didn't    bat    his    eye, 
And  when  the  smoke  had  blow'd  away 

Thar    warn't    no    wind    in    Sy. 
"So,   stranger,   don't  you  be  too  brash 

But    button   up   your   lip, 
Because  you'll  find  sich  games  don't  go 

No    more    at    Grizzly-Grip." 


112      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Im.mortal  Heroes 


CHAPTER  XI. 

SPORTS    OF    OLDEN    DAYS    AND    SOME     OF    MODERN     TIMES.       BEAU- 
TIFUL  "flower  battle"   its  origin  and  history.    A 

FETE    OF    MINGLED    BEAUTY    AND    CHIVALRY. 

Always  forming  a  prominent  part  of  the  history  of  either 
a  Nation,  a  State  or  a  City  have  been  the  pastimes  and  pleasures 
of  its  populace.     Those  of  Texas  and  particularly  of  San  Antonio 


SPANISH     SENORITA     DANCING    A    FIGURE    IN'        EL    JARABE. 

have  ever  been  enticing  and  distinctive.  Nearly  all  of  them 
up  to  recently  and  including  the  period  of  the  Civil  War  re- 
mained unique.  One  of  them,  even  now  the  principal  one, 
as  well  as  the  most  attractive  is  yet  such. 

The  chivalric  sons  of  sunny  Spain  and  those  of  effervescent 
France  brought    hither  with    them  their   pastimes   as    well  as 


Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      113 

their  other  customs.  First  and  most  popular  of  these  was  the 
dance.  Stately  as  the  minuet  were  some  of  the  figures  of  the 
fandango  of  olden  days,  while  to  the  accompaniment  of  cast- 
anets as  well  as  the  music  of  the  mandolin  and  the  guitar, 
the  flute  or  the  harp  w^as  danced  the  graceful  gyrations  of 
"El  Jarabe,"  a  very  ancient  and  popular  one  for  the  display 
of  the  poetry  of  motion  and  seductiveness  of  pose. 

The  grand  balls  given  at  the  seat  of  government,  the  palace 
of  the  potentate  of  the  province  in  old  Bexar,  were  all  affairs 
of  state  participated  in  by  the  most  prominent  personages 
of  the  region.  They  were  generally  commemorative  of  some 
great  national  event  or  the  celebration  of  some  regular  season 
of  festivity,  such  as  the  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  a  reigning 
monarch,  the  advent  of  a  new  governor  or  other  dignitary  civil 
or  military,  or  the  feast  day  of  the  Church  or  some  of  its  saints, 
patrons  of  a  Nation,  State  or  City.  The  mien  of  the  rulers 
was  ever  austere.  Their  revelry  was  stately  and  characterized 
by  a  graceful  dignity  that  gave  an  added  charm.  While  the 
revels  of  the  haut  ton  were  of  that  kind,  even  those  of  the  middle 
or  lower  classes  partook  of  a  certain  amount  of  dignity  and 
grace  that  gave  them  likewise  charming  glamour  when  the 
lower  or  middle  classes  found  time  for  gayety. 

Amid  all  of  this  revelry  where  the  strictest  punctilio  was 
practiced,  ever  present  as  an  accompaniment  was  the  deadly 
duello,  the  principals  of  which  did  not  leave  the  scene  of  pleasure 
to  perpetrate  deeds  of  death,  or  if  they  left  the  immediate 
scene  of  it  they  enacted  the  latter  in  some  nearby  environment. 
This  was  true  both  as  to  the  revels  of  the  rich  and  exclusive 
as  to  those  of  the  poor  and  lowly.  The  sword  and  pistol,  but 
more  often  the  more  deadly  dagger  punctuated  the  final  period 
for  one  and  sometimes  both  participants  in  the  duel  that  followed 
either  jealousy  over  some  fair  or  shapely  beauty  or  some  dis- 
pute as  to  prestige  or  valor. 

But  the  incidents  of  the  duello  never  disturbed  the  pro- 
gress of  the  dance.  "On  with  the  dance.  Let  joy  be  uncon- 
fined,"  was  the  ruling  passion  of  the  hour  and  night. 

In  the  palace  of  the  governors  on  the  west  side  of  Military 
Plaza  and  of  theVeramendi  on  Soledad,  the  former  still  stand- 
ing, though  dilapidated,  the  latter  forever  gone,  were  licld 
the  stately  functions  and  revels  of  the  official  families  of  ihc 
various  regimes  of  Spain  and  Mexico,  the  duels  taking  place 
either  immediately  beneath  their  roofs  or  in   the  ])lazas  and 


114      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

streets  liard  by.  The  old  Veramendi  later  became  the  place 
for  holding  the  public  revelry  of  the  middle  and  lower  class 
and  more  deadly  duels  probably  occurred  there  than  at  any 
other  of  the  scenes  of  Terpsichorean  transport. 

The  fandango  was  the  most  popular  of  the  public  dances. 
It  held  sway  here  from  the  coming  of  the  Cavaliers  from  Castille 
to  the  70 's  of  the  19th  century  and  was  in  full  effect  when  I 
first  came  to  San  Antonio. 

In  the  latter  days  of  the  festivities  of  this  character  the 
presiding  genius  under  whose  direction  they  were  held  was 
old  Madam  Candalaria.  She  claimed  to  have  been  a  survivor 
of  the  Alamo's  siege  and  fall.  The  fandangoes  were  held  in 
an  old  adobe  building,  a  part  of  which  still  stands  on  the  west 
side  of  Main  Plaza  at  the  place  afterward  known  as  the  old 
"Hole  in  the  Wall"  restaurant,  which  was  run  there  for  many 
years  by  Frank  Hemholz,  a  famous  chef  and  caterer,  after 
the  fandangoes  had  sought  other  environment  and  location. 
From  thence  fandango's  scene  changed  to  Market  street  near 
the  classic  structure  of  Grecian  architecture  still  standing 
there  near  Main  plaza  and  were  held  in  a  flat  and  square  struc- 
ture opposite  what  was  known  as  the  "Bull's  Head."  This 
latter  was  a  famous  saloon  and  gambling  house  where  the 
play  was  high  and  death  frequently  dealt  a  hand. 

Again  the  scene  shifted  and  the  Southwest  corner  of  South 
Flores  and  Nueva  streets  became  the  stage  on  which  the  festi- 
vities and  tragedies  combined  were  enacted.  Among  the 
tragedies  that  may  be  mentioned  was  a  double  one  in  which 
a  very  tall  and  portly  American  met  death  in  the  middle  of 
the  floor  when  the  dance  was  at  the  zenith.  The  corpse  was 
hastily  removed  while  the  dance,  but  momentarily  halted, 
w^as  resumed  before  the  body  was  hastily  flung  on  the  floor 
of  an  adjoining  room  wdiere  it  lay  while  the  dancers  continued 
to  hold  their  revel.  Another  man  was  also  wounded  at  the 
same  time.  His  name  was  Pareida.  He  did  not  die  then 
but  soon  after  being  carried  away  to  his  home.  Juan  E.  Barera, 
son  of  a  former  governor  of  the  province  of  Bexar  and  still 
living  in  San  Antonio,  was  twice  shot  at  fandangoes,  one  at 
a  house  at  the  Southeast  corner  of  Alamo  Plaza  and  Blum 
streets  and  the  other  as  he  left  the  one  near  Military  Plaza. 
The  man.  Miller,  who  shot  him  at  the  last  fandango,  was  one 
of  two  men  killed  by  the  "Vigilance  Committee"  the  other 
being  Bill   Hart,  both  meeting  death  in  a  battle  at  a  house 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes       115 

at  the  Northwest  corner  of  Market  and  Alamo  streets  in  which 
Field  Stroup.  one  of  those  forming  the  attacking  force  also 
fell  dead  at  the  door  of  this  house. 

Another  tragedy  memorable  in  connection  with  the  old 
fandangoes  took  place  in  a  tent  in  which  they  were  conducted. 
A  man  who  was  jealous  of  the  attentions  received  by  the  woman 
running  the  resort  shot  through  the  tent,  but  instead  of  killing 
his  intended  victim  mortally  wounded  a  woman  named  Juana 
"Tambora,"  or  the  "Drum."  The  latter  was  a  well  known 
character,  a  harmless  and  popular  one,  whose  death  created 
great  indignation.  One  of  the  other  noted  female  characters 
who  frec{uented  the  fandangoes  and  was  very  popular  at 
them  was  a  woman  bull  fighter.  She  had  killed  several  men 
as  well  as  many  bulls. 

A  man  named  Domingo  Bustillo  also  ran  a  fandango 
resort  at  the  corner  of  Acequia  and  Obraje  streets,  but  had 
as  a  very  strong  rival  a  woman  named  Donna  Dolores  Martinez, 
whose  dancing  resort  was  on  the  same  street  and  near  by. 

The  last  place  that  fandangoes  were  held  was  on  the  Alazan 
creek  and  Madam  Candalaria  managed  this  resort,  which  closed 
about    1876. 

One  of  the  sports  that  ruled  here  until  about  1878  was 
bull  fighting.  This  recreation  was  also  imported  from  Spain 
and  attracted  all  of  the  populace  to  witness  it  who  could  raise 
the  necessary  peso  to  pay  the  admission  fee.  The  m.atadors 
were,  most  of  them,  from  Spain  or  Mexico,  although  there 
were  several  of  local  nativity  and  notably  the  woman  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  fandangoes.  Usually  at  these  affairs 
more  horses  than  bulls  were  sacrificed,  the  former  being  cheaper 
than  the  latter 

The  early  bull  fights  were  conducted  by  Jose  Maria  de  la 
Plata,  known  as  "El  Empressario,  "who  was  illiterate  but  was 
a  personage  as  important  as  the  mayor  and  almost  as  great 
an  individual  as  the  chief  matador.  The  latter,  however, 
was  the  idol  of  the  entire  j)opulace  and  most  worshipped 
by  the  women,  therefore  envied  by  all  other  men. 

The  first  arena  was  erected  near  Cloud's  old  store  not  very 
far  south  of  San  Pedro  Park  and  west  of  the  stream  of  that 
name,  but  forays  of  Indians  became  so  freriuent  and  the  savages 
becoming  to  bold  as  to  raid  the  arena  when  the  l)ull  fights  were 
in  progress,  the  management  prudently  concluded  to  move  the 
Scene  of  attraction  from  the  outskirts  of  town  as  the  first  ]ilace 


116      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lmmortal  Heroes 

then  was,  to  one  somewhat  less  remote,  but  itself  then  none 
too  safe,  as  Indians,  even  occasionally  swooped  down 
and  interruped  there  the  gory  sport.  The  next  place  where 
the  arena  was  located  was  where  Franklin  square  is  now  sit- 
uated  and   adjacent   to   the   present   city  hospital.     The   last 


MEXICAN'    DAXDY 


"Empressario"  w^as  Antonio  Valdez,  now  very  aged,  but  en- 
gaged in  the  more  laborious  pursuit  of  gardening  in  Beanville, 
a  Southern  suburb  of  San  Antonio. 

The  very  latest  bull  fight  was  a  dual  contest  first  between 
a  bull  and  a  lion  and  that  followed  by  one  between  the  same 
bull  and  the  lioness,  mate  of  the  lion.     This  was  in  1878.     For 


COIMBATS    AXD    CONQUESTS    OF    I.MMORTAL    HeROES         117 

the  New  York  Herald  and  Leslie's  Magazine  I  furnished  the 
account.  The  pair  of  lions  had  been  left  behind  by  a  stranded 
circus.  The  male  had  been  formerly  a  very  fierce  beast.  One 
of  his  eyes  bad  been  burned  out  with  a  hot  iron  when  he  was 
killing  a  keeper.  But  at  the  time  of  the  alleged  combat  with 
the  bull  he  was  old,  decrepit  and  almost  toothless.  For  three 
days  preceeding  the  "combat"  he  and  his  mate  had  been  starved 
to  make  them  savage.  The  arena  was  a  steel  cage  about  thirty 
feet  in  diameter  The  bull  was  really,  a  bold  brute.  The 
circus  wagon  cage  in  which  the  pair  of  lions  were  held,  a  double 
compartment  concern,  was  placed  against  a  wicket  of  the 
arena.  The  scene  of  the  brutal  affair  was  in  the  Southern  part 
of  the  city,  near  the  battle  ground  in  which  Bowie  had  defeated 
a  force  of  Mexicans  near  a  ford  on  the  river  in  1835.  When 
the  door  of  the  lion's  compartment  was  opened  he  had  to  be 
forced  from  his  cage  with  a  pole  held  by  one  of  the  men  con- 
ducting the  "combat,"  and  was  so  weak  that  he  could  scarcely 
stand.  He  staggered  about  the  arena  until  he  attracted  the 
bull's  attention.  The  latter  rushed  at  him.  The  lion  did 
not  seem  to  realize  that  he  was  to  defend  himself.  He  was 
caught  upon  the  horns  of  the  bull  and  tossed  hard  against 
the  steel  bars.  He  fell  at  their  base  to  be  mashed  and  squeezed 
against  them,  the  while  uttering  piercing  shrieks  of  agony 
far  different  from  the  usual  roar  of  the  king  of  beasts.  The 
spectacle  was  so  barbarous  that  the  spectators  cried  out  against 
it.  The  bull  was  prodded  away  from  the  lion  with  the  same 
pole,  by  the  same  man  who  had  pushed  the  lion  from  his  cage 
like  a  reluctant  rat  from  his  trap  before  an  expectant  terrier. 
The  bull  was  lassoed  and  held  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  arena. 
Ropes  were  placed  about  the  lion  and  he  was  dragged  back 
to  his  compartment.  He  was  in  a  pitiful  plight  and  horribly 
gored.  It  was  then  announced  that  next  day  the  lioness  would  be 
pitted  against  the  bull.  Less  than  half  the  size  of  the  crowd 
on  the  previous  day  was  that  of  the  next.  The  lioness  had 
still  been  starved,  but  notwithstanding  her  weak  condition 
she  showed  bravery  that,  but  for  her  weakness  would  have 
enabled  her  to  defeat  the  bull.  When  her  cage  was  opened  she 
leaped  into  the  arena.  Half  crouched  she  partly  encircled  it, 
keeping  her  eyes  on  the  bull.  That  animal  appeared  confident  of 
easy  victory.  He  waited  until  she  came  close  to  him  then 
lowered  his  head  and  made  a  deliberate  dash  at  her.  This 
she  avoided  by  leaping  over  his  head  and  horns,   landing  on 


118      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

his  flank.  She  proceeded  to  tear  her  claws  into  his  flesh  and 
it  was  then  the  time  for  the  bull  to  roar  with  pain  and  run 
about  the  arena.  wShe  released  her  hold  on  his  haunches  to 
take  one  upon  his  neck,  but  as  she  did  so  she  was  shaken  from 
her  perch  and  fell  to  the  ground.  Before  she  coulri  again, 
as  she  attempted  to,  spring  back  upon  him,  the  bull  had  her, 
like  he  h  a  d  previously  her  mate,  pinioned  against 
the  steel  bars  and  pressed  there  while  she  roared  piteously, 
but  kept  scratching  the  face  of  her  assailant.  1  his  she  con- 
tinued to  do.  The  proceedings  of  the  day  before  were  repeated. 
The  bull  was  roped  and  pulled  away.  The  lioness  was  able 
to  limp  around  the  arena  to  where  her  cage  was  backed  up 
against  it  but  was  so  weak  she  had  to  be  lifted  back  into  it. 
The  "management"  then  announced  that  next  day  both  animals 
would  be  fought  against  the  bull,  but  the  spectators  protested 
and  the  off"icials  refused  to  pern: it  renewal  of  the  barbarous 
and   sickening   affair. 

The  bull  was  badly  lacerated  by  the  lioness  in  their  combat, 
but  was  still  as  bellicose  as  ever.  He  was  sold  to  some  bull 
fighters  from  Mexico  and  may  have  been  taken  there  for  another 
fight.  The  lion  and  his  mate  were  caged  in  vSan  Antonio  for 
some  days.  The  male  died  but  the  lioness  lived  and  was  sold 
to  a  zoo  elsewhere  after  having  been  kept  on  exhibition  west 
of  the  San  Pedro  for  some  months.  This  concluded  bull  bait- 
ing and  fighting  between  m.en  and  animals  or  bulls  and  lions. 

But  another  of  the  early  day  sports  has  continued  up 
to  the  prescTit  year,  that  of  cock  fighting.  In  early  days  the 
combats  were  held  out  on  Main  and  Military  Plazas.  The 
arbiter  sat  in  a  huge  chair.  He  wielded  a  big  stick.  When 
one  of  the  birds  evinced  cowardice  and  ran  he  promptly  killed 
it  with  this  club.  Later  the  place  for  holding  such  combats 
was  changed  to  the  trans-San  Pedro  where  instead  of  being 
held  in  the  open  air,  enclosed  arenas  were  erected,  admission 
fees  charged  and  there  was  more  privacy  than  had  character- 
ized them  previously.  But  as  at  the  fandangoes,  disputes  fre- 
quently occurred,  resulting  in  human  blood  being  shed  as  well  as 
that  of  the  fighting  fowls.  Of  course  there  was  gambling  on  the 
results  of  the  combats  and  each  owner  and  his  friends  would 
back  the  respective  birds.  Cock  fighting  has  only  been  pro- 
hibited by  law  a  short  time  and  even  since  prohibition,  has 
frequently    been    surreptitiously    ])racticed. 

For  many  years  and  from  the  commencement  of  the  colo- 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      119 

ny's  settlement  here  cockfightino:  was  in  voo-ue  and  was  legal, 
but  the  colonists  also  introduced  different  kinds  of  gambHng 
besides  that  incident  to  betting  on  the  birds.  Gambling  with 
cards  and  by  means  of  other  devices  prevailed  in  San  Antonio 
from  the  coming  of  the  Conquistadores  to  the  latter  part  of 
the  first  decade  of  the  present  century.  The  play  was  higher, 
however,    about    the   days   shortly   ])receeding   the   Civil  War. 


>"  / 


PRRT    SPANISH    SENORITA 


Great  stacks  and  piles  of  silver  were  heaped  upon  the  tables 
at  the  various  gambling  houses.  The  most  notorious  of  them 
all  was  the  Bull's  Head,  at  the  corner  of  Market  and  Yturri 
streets.  There  many  fortunes  were  lost  by  prominent  people, 
many  murders  occurred,  growing  out  of  the  gambling  there 
carried  on. 

Gambling  rooms  also  adjoined  the  variety  shows  and 
cockpits.  One  known  as  Jack  Harris'  was  located  at  the 
northwest   corner  of    Main     Plaza    and     Soledad  street.       Its 


120      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  ITeroes 

owner,  Harris,  was  killed  by  Ben  Thompson,  who  was  city 
marshal  of  Austin  at  the  time  of  this  tragedy.  Thompson, 
accompanied  by  King  Fisher,  who  like  Thompson,  had 
killed  many  men  before  his  death,  entered  the  variety  show 
part  of  the  establishment  some  considerable  time  after  killing 
Harris  and  started  to  where  Harris'  partner,  Joe 
Foster  was.  Vvith  one  hand  he  offered  to  shake 
with  Foster.  At  the  same  time  he  had  his  other  hand  suspic- 
iously near  his  hip.  Foster  told  him  he  did  not  care  to 
either  shake  hands  with  him  or  to  have  any  trouble  with  him  and 
asked  him  to  leave  the  place.  Thompson  then  drew  his  pistol 
and  fired,  the  shot  striking  Foster  in  the  leg  as  Jacob  Coy, 
the  special  policeman  of  the  place,  struck  Thompson's  pistol 
down.  Foster  then  fired,  striking  Thompson  in  the  head 
as  the  latter  fired  his  second  shot  that  was  intended  for  Coy, 
who  again  knocked  the  pistol  down.  This  shot  struck  the  floor 
at  Coy's  feet.  Shooting  then  became  general  at  both  Thomp- 
son and  Fisher.  The  latter,  although  usually  very  quick 
with  a  pistol,  never  got  a  chance  to  draw  his  weapon.  He 
was  behind  Thompson  who  pressed  Fisher  back  against  the 
wall  in  such  a  way  as  to  prevent  him  getting  a  chance  to  pull 
his  pistol.  Both  Thompson  and  Fisher  fell  riddled  with  bullets, 
which  struck  their  heads  and  breasts.  The  floor  where  they 
fell  had  many  bullet  holes  in  it,  showing  even  after  they  were 
down  those  firing  at  them  gave  them  no  chance  to  do  any 
further  shooting  at  the  inmates  of  the  place  that  Thompson 
came  there  to  kill.  Foster  lived  for  several  days,  but  had  an 
aneurism  in  his  leg  resulting  from  an  old  wound  inflicted  dur- 
ing the  Civil  War.  When  the  surgeons  went  to  operate  Foster 
bled  to  death  from  this  aneurism,  which  unawares  they  cut 
into.  All  of  the  principals  in  this  tragedy  are  dead.  Harris 
was  the  first  killed.  Thompson  and  Fisher  were  killed  the 
night  Thompson  tried  to  annihilate  the  inmates  of  the  estab- 
lishment. Foster  died  a  few  days  later.  Coy  died  recently 
as  did  Bob  Churchill,  who  with  a  shotgun  fired  several  times 
at  both  Thompson  and  Fisher. 

Many  noted  professional  gamblers  operated  in  San  Anto- 
nio during  the  days  of  public  gaming.  Among  these  were 
Warren  Allen,  Mat  Woodlief,  both  of  whom  had  slain  numerous 
victims  prior  to  being  killed  themselves,  "Rowdy"  Joe,  Joel 
Collins,   "Sore  Eyed  Bill,"  and  "Shirt  Collar  Sam." 

The  Fashion  Theatre,  the  old   Washington,  the  Grey  Mule 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Hkroks       121 

and  Bella  Union  were  well  known  variety  shows  with  gambling 
attachments  and  there  was  a  variety  show  held  in  a  building 
recently  torn  down  located  at  the  northwest  corner  of  North 
Flores  street  and  Military  Plaza  in  which  a  memorable  traged}^ 
occurred  w^herein  Georgia  Drake,  a  beautiful  song  and  dance 
woman  was  slain  by  a  soldier  named  Lanham,  who  was  given 
a  life  sentence  for  the  murder,  but  has  since  been  pardoned. 

Another  of  the  old  time  sports,  principally  participated 
in  by  the  Mexican  portion  of  the  populace,  was  what  was  termed 
"El  Gallo  Coriendo,"  the  "running  rooster. "  This  sport  was 
usually  practiced  on  Catholic  feast  days,  notably  San  Juan, 
San  Fernando  and  San  Antonio  days.  Then  a  man  mounted 
on  a  very  fleet  horse  carried  a  rooster,  generally  some  noted 
fighting  bird,  decorated  with  ribbons  and  flowers.  Going  as 
fast  as  his  steed  could  carry  him  and  his  bird,  a  prize  to  be 
kept  by  the  last  one  capturing  and  bringing  it  to  the  agreed 
goal  after  pursuing  a  route  previously  designated. 

The  chase  was  usually  long  and  stern,  during  it  many 
scuffles  for  possession  of  the  coveted  trophy  rendering  it  more 
strenuous  than  courteous.  Many  of  the  competitors  were 
unseated  from  their  mounts  and  fell,  quite  a  number  of  them 
having  been  seriously  injured  and  some  killed.  Their  brains 
were  dashed  out  against  rocks  on  which  they  fell,  their  necks, 
or  limbs  broken  or  they  were  otherwise  injured.  It  is  need- 
less to  add  that  very  frequently  the  fowl  was  injured  or  killed 
consequent   to   the   contest. 

Sometimes "  the  prize,  instead  of  a  rooster,  was  a  water- 
melon, the  proceedure  otherwise  being  the  same  and  usually 
with   similar  results  and  casualties. 

Among  other  sports  of  olden  days  w^ere  tournaments  and 
jousts  wherein  skill  with  lance  and  spear  were  displayed.  While 
"town  "  ball  that  later  gave  way  to  baseball  was  another  and 
polo  were  in  vogue  here  long  before  they  became  the  fad  of 
the  wealthy  North,  the  tough  wiry  and  cheap  mustang  ponies 
furnishing  admirable  and  game  mounts  for  the  contestants 
who  with  more  zeal  than  civility  played  the  game  that  now 
is   commonly  called   "croquet  on  horseback." 

While  nearly  all  of  the  old  time  sports  have  been  super- 
ceeded  by  more  modern  ones,  those  that  have  been  substituted 
have  charms  as  great  as  those  possessed  by  their  predecessors. 

One  of  the  great  institutions  peculiar  to  San  Antonio 
and  famous  the  world  over  is  her  Spring  Carnival,  its  principal 


122      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


FIVE    nOl.LAK    EILL    OF    THE    TEXAS    REPUBLIC 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  I.vlmortal  Heroes      12.'^ 

and  literally  crowning  and  concluding  event  being  her  fasci- 
nating fete  called,  "Ihe  Battle  of  Flowers."  It  is  of  com- 
paratively modern  origin.  The  year  of  its  conception  was 
1891,  the  suggestion  being  made  then  by  W.  J.  Ballard  when 
the  matter  of  program  for  entertainment  of  the  first  president 
of  the  United  States  to  visit  here  during  his  incumbency  was 
discussed.  The  President  was  Benjamin  Harrison,  who  was 
to  reach  San  Antonio  on  the  dayof  the  anniversary  of  the  battle 
of  San  Jacinto.  Ihe  suggestion  found  favor  with  the  com- 
munity. J.  S.  Alexander  was  then  president  of  the  Business 
Men's  Club  under  whose  aupices  it  was  to  be  held,  but  rain 
almost  in  deluge  form  occurred  on  the  day  of  the  presidential 
visit,  so  the  fete  was  postponed  until  the  following  Saturday. 

Possibly  no  more  fitting  commemoration  of  an  anniver- 
sary can  be  found  any^^'here  than  that  of  the  celebration  at 
San  Antonio  annually  of  the  San  Jacinto  battle  on  the  21st 
day  of  April  of  each  year.  Then  instead  of  the  shrieking  shells 
and  death  dealing  bullets  that  were  hurled  from  smoking  guns 
at  the  memorable  battle  between  Mexican  and  American  com- 
batants, no  harsher  missiles  are  used  than  the  petals  of  roses 
and  the  stems  of  lillies.  These  are  cast  by  the  gentle 
hands  of  the  city's  fair  sisterhood  and  those  of  surrounding 
localities,  who  in  passing,  pelt  the  gallant  youth  gathered  along 
the  pathway  of  the  pageant  as  it  describes  sinuous  evolutions 
about  the  historic  Alamo  Plaza,  scene  of  a  former  and  even 
more  memorable  combat.  These  effectively  create  havoc 
among  the  hearts  against  which  they  are  hurled. 

Seated  in  vehicles  of  various  kinds  from  which  they  scatter 
flowers,  this  sisterhood  ride,  attired  in  radiant  and  resplendent 
raiment.  Their  equipages  and  the  steeds  drawing  them  are 
decked  in  floral  and  other  gala  ornamentation.  On  reaching 
the  plaza  the  pageant's  forces  are  divided  into  double  cohnnn 
formation  and  encircle  it  in  opposite  directions. 

But  this  "battle"  is  preceeded  by  a  peerless  pageant  par- 
ticipated in  by  the  patriotic  civic  and  military  organizations 
and  augmented  by  fraternal  and  educational  as  well  as  historic 
associations.  They  all  form  a  long  line  of  kaleidoscopic  color, 
blending  beauty  and  chivalry  that  traverse  the  principal  plazas 
and   streets  of  the   celebrated   city. 

Usually  a  "Queen"  has  been  previously  selected  for  this 
Flower  fete  by  the  Omala  Knights.  Her  identity  is  ke])t  se- 
cret until  on  this  brilliant  occasion  she  is  ])ublicly  crowned. 


124      Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Lmimortal  Heroes 

She  has  follo\ting  in  her  train  a  court  comprised  of  these  mimic 
"Knights"  and  ladies  of  honor  and  in  waiting  usually  selected 
from  surrounding  cities  and  towns.  The  "Knights"  generally 
ride  in  cavalcade  or  about  the  coach  of  state  of  the  "Queen  of 
Flowers"  and  beside  the  carriages  carrying  her  attendant 
maids.  This  train  and  the  entire  pageant  forms  a  dazzling 
spectacle  whose  brilliance,  beauty  and  color  cast  a  sheen  sur- 
passing all  else  to  be  seen  as  it  traverses  the  parks,  plazas  and 
streets  densely  packed  with  people  from  far  and  near.  Always 
the  "Queen  and  Court"  are  greeted  with  loud  acclaim  by  the 
immense  mass  through  which  the  pageant  passes.  All  of  the 
porticos,  piazzas  and  balconies  are  thickly  thronged  with  eager 
and  admiring  spectators.  The  martial  features  too,  of  this 
pageant  are  ever  numerous,  glittering  and  attractive.  They 
always  form  an  important  element  of  it. 

For  the  first  time  in  history  this  anniversary  was  recog- 
nized officially  by  this  Government  in  1896.  The  then  Sec- 
retary of  War  Daniel  Lamont  ordered  that  21  guns  be  fired 
on  the  occasion  of  this  anniversary.  This  has  been  done  at 
Fort  Sam  Houston  every  year  since  then.  The  year  after 
the  organization  for  the  celebration  of  the  anniversary  was 
formed  its  management  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  ladies 
of  San  Antonio.  Mrs.  J.  J.  Stevens  was  chosen  its  first  president. 
The  following  year  the  wife  of  a  former  mayor  of  the  city  Mrs. 
James  H.  French,  was  the  head  of  the  organization.  The 
next  two  years  followino:  Mrs.  Elizabeth  C-  Ogden,  who  served 
from  1896  to  1899,  after  which  several  other  prominent  San 
Antonio  society  dames  succeeded  her  and  each  other,  among 
them  being  Mrs.  Herman  D.  Kampman,  Miss  Clara  DriscoU 
now  Mrs.  Hal  Sevier  and  later  others.  The  ladies  relinquished 
the  management  to  a  chartered  Carnival  association  whose 
first  president  was  Frank  H.  Bushick,  its  next,  Ben  M.  Hammond 
and  finally  its  present  one  Col.  George  Leroy  Brown,  U.  S.  Army, 
retired.  Conspicuous  in  the  work  connected  with  this  and 
other  carnival  pagantry  have  been  Charles  Simmang  and  Louis 
Heuermann,  originators  of  the  Knights  of  Omala  train  and 
Ben  M.  Hammond,  Frank  H.  Bushick,  John  and  W.  G.  Tobin, 
while  Charles  Graebner,  W.  E.  Tuttle,  J.  Hampton  Sullivan, 
F.  A.  Chapa,  John  J.  Stevens  and  F.  W.  Cook  have  also  contri- 
buted greatly  to  the  annual  success  of  this  fete  which  usually 
ends  with  a  grand  charity  ball  and  the  San  Jacinto  cotillion, 
both    l)rilliant    social    events. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      125 

While  the  ladies  no  longer  take  an  active  part  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  financial  details  of  the  Carnival  and  its  incident 
San  Jacinto  commemoration  they  participate  in  the  page£mtry 
and  .the  social  functions  incident  to  it,  their  participation 
rendering  it  the  great  and  beautiful  annual  affair  that  is  so 
eminently    successful    and    attractive. 


CHAPTER  XII 

FROM     OX-CART     TC     AEROPLANE.       MANY     WAYS     OF     TRAVELING. 
THE      OLD      PRAIRIE      "SCHOONER."       MUSTANG      AND 
BUFFALO   GONE   FOREVER. 

From  ox-cart  to  aeroplane  is  a  far  flight.  There  have 
been  many  means  of  traction  in  vogue  since  I  first  came  to 
the  section  of  which  I  speak.  Prior  to  and  up  to  the  time  of 
my  arrival  the  principal  means  of  transportation  was  the  wagon, 
drawn  either  by  oxen,  horses  or  mules.  Singular  as  it  may 
seem,  a  small  war  arose  over  the  transportation  industry  of 
the  western  part  of  the  Lone  Star  state.  This  was  what  was 
known  as  the  "Cart  War,"  about  60  years  ago.  At  that  time 
most  of  the  freight  brought  to  that  section  from  the  coast  was 
hauled  from  Indianola.  It  was  brought  in  carts  of  large  size 
mounted  on  a  single  pair  of  wooden  wheels.  These  wheels 
had  no  spokes.  They  were  made  by  joining  very  thick  and 
broad  boards  transvers  to  each  other,  sawing  them  into  circular 
shape  and  making  a  hole  in  the  center  for  the  axle  of  the 
vehicle.  Their  height  was  6  feet  or  more.  The  cart-bodies 
resembled  immense  crates  into  which  the  freight  was  placed 
and  screened  with  thick  canvass  sheets  to  shed  the  rain  and 
keep  out  the  sun.  The  vehicles  were  drawn  by  a  single  pair, 
or  yoke  of  oxen.  Their  yoke  was  fastened  by  thongs  to  the 
horns  instead  of  the  neck  of  the  patient  plodding  beasts, 
leaving  them  no  freedom  of  movement  of  the  head  whatever. 

Most  of  these  carts  were  owned  by  Mexicans  who  were 
enjoying  a  very  lucrative  business  and  had  almost  a  monopoly 
of  it,  but  German  and  American  teamsters  introduced  what 
was  known  as  the  "prairie  schooner"  and  came  into  successful 
competition  with  them.  The  "prairie  schooner"  was  an 
immicnse  wagon,  very  high  and  long,  its  body  usually  painted 
a  sky  blue  and  its  wheels  and  running  gear  a  rich   red   color. 


126      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

It  was  drawn  either  by  horses  or  mules,  or  frequently  both. 
To  these  were  hitched  sometimes  as  many  as  six  and  eight 
abreast  in  platoons  of  four  and  six,  there  having  been  some- 
times as  many  as  thirty  or  more  of  these  beasts  drawing  a  single 
"schooner."  There  were  generally  not  less  than  eight  or  ten 
of  these  "schooners"  and  often  twenty- five  in  a  train. 

The  rivalry  was  so  great  and  the  feeling  so  intensely  bit- 
ter between  the  owners  of  the  "carretas"  or  carts,  and  the 
"schooners"  or  wagons  that  a  feud  broke  out  which  culminated 
in  a  series  of  pitched  battles.     One  of  these  which  took  place 


OLD    TEXAS     LONCHOKN     STEER    OWNED    BV    JAMES     DOBIE,     SHOWN     AT    IN  TE  KX  ATION  AL      KAIK       SHORTLY 

BEFORE    '    SLAIN. 


near  Goliad  and  almost  on  the  identical  spot  where  Fannin 
and  his  force  were  annihilated,  resulted  in  the  death  of  about 
a  dozen  of  the  owners  of  the  "schooners"  and  fully  forty  of 
those  who  owned  the   "carretas." 

This  war  lasted  for  several  months,  but  was  finally  sup- 
pressed and  a  peace  pact  made  between  the  rival  interests. 
In  those  days  not  only  all  of  the  freight  but  many  passengers 
were  conveyed  in  either  the    carts    or    the    "schooners"    both 


Combats  and  Conox^ests  of  Immortal   Ukroes       127 

from  the  coast  into  the  interior  and  from  city  to  city,  or  town 
to  town,  or  from  Texas  to  Mexico  as  well  as  from  San  Antonio 
to  the  different  frontier  forts  to  which  supplies  for  the  troops 
were  transported  and  sometimes  even  the  troops  themselves. 

In  those  days  there  was  much  less  timber  than  now.  No 
pasture  fences  intervened.  xA.ll  the  country  was  open.  There 
were  well  defined  trails  instead  of  regular  roads.  Stock  was 
driven  over  these  trails.  Horsemen  followed  them  and  wagons 
ran  along  or  in  them.  The  growth  of  timber  was  retarded  by 
the  frequent  fires  that  burned  off  the  grass  and  destroyed  the 
young  shrubs  and  trees.  These  usually  left  the  praries  bleak 
and  bare  or  black  and  sere  until  the  grass  grew  again  upon 
them  or  flowers  mantled  them  in  resplendent  rainbow  hues, 
making  them  like  an  immense  carpet  of  real  floral  figures 
spreading  for  miles  and  forming  such  a  splendid  sward  as  is 
seldom  or  never  seen  now. 

On  this  grass  grazed  not  dozens,  or  hundreds,  but  thousands, 
tens  of  thousands  and  even  hundreds  of  thousands  of  bison, 
the  buffalo  frequently  being  so  numerous  and  compact  that 
it  was  im]30ssible  to  pass  through  their  immense  herds  and 
there  was  always  danger  of  a  stampede,  or  their  trampling 
under  their  hoofs  and  destroying  those  who  were  with  the 
trains.  The  buffalo  had  regular  trails  which  they  followed, 
these  usually  being  in  close  proximity  to  the  streams  that  fur- 
nished them   water. 

There  was  probably  no  grander  sight  to  be  witnessed  than 
these  immense  herds  of  buffalo,  especially  when  in  flight  and 
the  thunder  sound  of  their  myriad  hoofs  was  an  awe-inspring 
one.  But  hunters  other  than  the  Indians  came  among  them 
and  slew  thern  wantonly.  As  long  as  they  had  but  the  Indians 
alone  to  hunt  them,  their  herds  grew  and  increased.  But  the 
American  hunter  with  his  modern  cartridge  Winchester  rifle 
got  among  them  and  slew  them  right  and  left  without  mercy 
or  heed  and  intent  other  than  to  wantonly  kill  the  noble  beasts 
and  leave  their  mammoth  cadavers  to  rot  in  the  sun  and  taint 
the  air  until  devoured  by  the  vulture  and  the  wolf.  Then 
their  numbers  soon  declined  until  there  were  none  left  except 
the  few  now  to  be  seen  in  the  zoos  and  Xhv  ])arks  or  with  the 
"Wild- West"    shows. 

In  those  days  too,  there  were  many  nnistangs  or  wild 
horses.  These  in  droves  of  hundre':is  and  sometimes  thousands, 
roamed  over  the  vast  domain  imfcttercd  and  free  fnnn  human 


128      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lm.mortal  Heroes 

thrall  until  caught  with  the  cruel  lasso  or  lariat  of  the  caballero, 
who  brought  them  under  subjection,  carried  them  to  San 
Antonio,  then  the  greatest  horse  market  of  the  world  and 
sold  them.  These  horses,  although  small  in  stature,  were 
generally  very  hardy  and  able  to  withstand  much  rough 
usage  and  many  hardships   of  the   highway   and  travel. 

It  is  said  these  mustangs  originated  from  the  steeds  the 
Spanish  cavaliers  brought  from  Spain,  among  which  were 
some  genuine  Arabian  ones  of  pure  blood.  These,  unmolested 
for  more  than  a  centur}^  seemed  to  multiply  until  they  almost 
vied  in  numbers  with  the  buffalo  of  the  lianas,  or  plains. 

The  late  Captain  William  H.  Edgar  related  to  me  an 
exciting  incident  which  occurred  in  1858  during  a  trip  which 
he  took  from  Corpus  Christi  to  Brownsville,  during  a  period 
when  wild  mustang  herds  roamed  at  will  over  that  section. 

"We  had  a  train  comprising  two  wagons  and  an  ambulance. 
There  were  ten  in  our  party.  We  frequently  saw  herds  of 
these  horses  to  Vv^hich  we  usually  paid  little  or  no  attention 
unless  they  got  in  too  close  proximity.  They,  like  the  buf- 
faloes, when  excited  or  disturbed,  usually  proceeded  on  a  direct 
line  froiTi  which  it  was  difficult  to  deflect  them.  On  this 
occasion  we  encountered  a  herd  of  about  300.  Their  leader 
was  a,  stallion.  They  followed  him  implicitly,  as  sheep  do  a 
bell  wether  or  as  the  buffaloes  in  those  days  did  the  big  bull 
at  the  head  of  the  herd.  They  had  been  quietly  grazing  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  our  right,  when  suddenly  something 
seemed  to  startle  and  stampede  them.  The  stallion  lifted  his 
head,  shook  his  long  mane  and  reared.  Lunging  forward 
as  he  trumpeted,  he  broke  into  a  mad  run  straight  towards 
us.  His  entire  herd  followed  close  upon  his  heels.  They  ran 
like  a  whirlwind  straight  forward.  AVe  saw  at  a  glance  that 
we  were  directly  in  their  course  and  would  be  run  into  and 
over  if  we  did  not  do  something  and  do  it  quick.  I  felt  my 
hair  lifting  my  hat  up,  but  I  jumped  out  of  the  ambulance  I 
was  seated  in,  grabbing  my  rifle  as  I  did  so.  All  the  others 
of  our  party  did  likewise.  Selecting  the  stallion  as  my  target 
I  fired,  but  missed  him.  The  hurtling  herd  sped  at  us.  All 
our  rifles  failed  us.  We  had  but  our  pistols  left.  vSome  of 
these  were  the  old  single-chambered  "Derringer"  of  those 
days.  They,  like  the  rifles  of  those  times,  were  muzzle-loaders 
with  but  a  single  charge.  Some  of  us  had  the  old  style  cap 
and  ball  Colt  revolver  with  five  or  six  cylinders  charged.    The 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      129 

avalanche  of  horse-flesh  still  swooped  down  until  we  could 
see  the  eyes  of  the  menacing  mustangs  distinctly.  We  kept 
firing  repeatedly  and  as  rapidly  as  possible,  having  no  time 
to   reload    and    discarding    a    weapon    as   soon   as   emptied. 


ATGUSTUS    M.    CII.IJEN,    kAXCKk    AND    COWBOY 


Just  when  it  seemed  absolutely  certain  that  we  were  all  to 
be  mangled  beneath  the  hoofs  of  these  brown  demons,  they 
suddenly  checked.  Then  their  column  split  asunder.  One 
portion  sped  by  the  front  and  the  other  the  rear  of  our  train. 


130         CoiVIBATS    AND    CoNOUESTS    OF    Lm.MORTAL    HeROES 

They  seemed  to  fly  by  us  in  such  a  bewildering  way  as  to  al- 
most take  our  breath,  which  we  held  until  they  had  cleared 
us.  The  feeling  of  relief  succeeding  the  tension  was  a  welcome 
sensation  that  can  only  be  understood  by  being  experienced. 
I  never  'will  be  able  to  describe  it." 


hijWAklj       KiilLLA.       I'lONEEk       WOOL      iMERCHAiXl. 


They  were  still  being  caught  and  marketed  when  I  first 
came  to  Texas.  The  horse-market  in  those  days  was  on 
Dolorosa  Street,  from  the  old  Herald  Building  south  of 
the  present  Southern  Hotel  and  along  South  Flores  street 
to   Nueva  Street  and  even  below  for  several  blocks. 


Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      131 

Among  the  most  prominent  of  the  horse  traders  of  those 
days  was  old  Don  Narcisso  Leal,  recently  deceased,  and  the 
Morin  brothers,  some  of  whom  are  still  in  San  Antonio.  But 
the  buffalo  and  the  mustang  are  gone  forever.  The  last  of 
their  race  is  probably  seen  among  the  few  polo  ponies  being 
even  now  raised  for  and  sold  in  San  Antonio  to  the  northern 
sportsmen.  When  I  was  in  McMullen  County  about  ten 
years  ago  there  was  still  a  small  herd  of  wild  mustangs  in  a 
pasture  there  and  its  owner  was  willing  to  give  them  to  any 


AFTER    A    FIGHT    WITH    INDIAN'S 


one  who  would  drive  them  out,  for  they  were  consuming  range 
grass  he  needed  for  his  steers  and  other  cattle.  There  is  also 
a  small  herd  of  hybrid  buffalo  in  the  pasture  of  Charles  Good- 
night on  the  Texas  Pandhandle,  the  bison  having  interbred 
with  Goodnight's  cattle  as  those  in  the  Brackenridge  park  at 
San  Antonio  have  crossed  with  the  cattle  of  this  vicinity. 

Side  by  side  with  the  buffalo  and  the  broncho  mustang 
had  grazed  the  Texas  steer,  its  typical  "longhorn."  Countless 
cattle  in  the  early  days  roamed  over  the  vast  ranges  of  this 
state.     Their  pioneer  owners  were     called     "Cattle   Barons." 


132      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

They  were  surely  an  aristocracy  unto  themselves.  Their 
cattle  in  the  early  history  of  the  Texas  Republic  and  State 
were  of  the  longhorn  species,  which  until  within  the  past 
decade  predominated,  but  have  since  been  supplanted  by  the 
"shorthorn"  or  the  dehorned  "muley."  Many  of  the  Cattle 
Kings  were  unable  to  enumerate  their  stock.  Probably  the 
most  extensive  cattle  owner  in  the  world  was  in  reality  a 
cattle  sovereign.  His  name  was  Richard  King.  His  ranch 
included  the  greater  portion  of  three  counties,  Nueces,  San 
Patricio  and  Uuval.  His  ranch  fence  had  a  single  panel 
of  more  han  lOO  miles  in  length.  His  ranch  house  was  twenty 
miles  distant  from  his  gate  after  he  built  his  first  fence,  which 
was  one  of  the  first  to  enclose  a  Texas  pasture.  His  partner, 
Captain  Miflin  Kennedy,  had  extensive  livestock  possessions 
also  but  not  comparable  with  those  of  King.  Besides  being 
Barons  of  livestock  both  were  pioneer  steamboatmen,  owning 
and  operating  the  steamers  that  ran  on  the  Rio  Grande  river 
and  plied  between  its  mouth  and  Brownsville,  Matamoras, 
and  as  far  up  that  stream  as  Hidalgo  and  even  Rio  Grande 
City  in  the  days  before  the  heavy  flow  of  that  stream 
was  diverted  into  the  irrigation  canals  and  railway  interests 
caused  the  closing  up  of  the  channel  at  Brazos  Santigo. 

Great  holdings  of  cattle  had  Samuel  A.  Maverick,  Sr. 
He  had  them  at  Matagorda  on  an  island  and  so  numerous 
were  they  that  he  never  knew  how  many  he  owned.  His 
landed  estates  were  also  as  extensive  as  his  cattle  interests, 
it  being  his  boast  that  he  was  able  to  travel  all  the  way  from 
San  Antonio  to  the  Rio  Grande  river  over  his  own  land,  which 
was  even  greater  in  area  than  that  of  Captain  King. 

George  W.  Fulton,  of  the  town  of  his  name,  near  Rock- 
port,  also  owned  an  immense  herd  as  did  his  partners  Mat- 
this  and  Thomas  Coleman,  Sr.  Their  ranch  was  that  now 
owned  by  Charles  Taft,  brother  of  the  present  president  of  the 
United  States,  which  is  also  in  two  counties  Aransas  and  San 
Patricio. 

In  the  early  70 's  of  the  last  century  at  this  town  of  Fulton 
there  were  four  beef  packeries  wherein  more  cattle  were 
slaughtered  than  in  Kansas  City,  St  Louis  or  Chicago,  or  by 
the  Armours,  the  Swifts  and  Cudahy's  or  the  Morrises  of 
the  present  day.  The  meat  then  canned  at  these  packing 
houses  w^as  shipped  extensively,  regular  lines  of  steamships 
being  engaged  in  carrying  it  to  various  distant  ports.      The 


Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes       133 

principal  of  these  steamship  lines  was  the  old  Morgan  line. 
One  of  its  former  pursers,  the  veteran,  M.  D.  Monseratte, 
is  still   living  in   San    Antonio. 

Adjoining  the  King  ranch  in  Nueces  County  was  that 
of  another  prominent  family  of  cattle  owners,  the  Rabbs,  who 
had  thousands  and  even  hundreds  of  thousands  of  head  of 
cattle.  It  is  estimated  that  King's  cattle  numbered  at  least 
30,000  at  one  time.  Mrs.  Rabb  was  called  the  "Cattle 
Queen." 

Among  other  well  known  cattlemen  may  well  be  men- 
tioned the  father  of  W.  A.  Lowe,  who  at  one  time  owned  3,000 
different  cattle  brands,  the  different  brandings  being  placed 
on  many  thousands  of  cattle.  Other  stockmen  worthy  of 
mention  in  this  connection  are  J.  B.  Armstrong  of  Cath- 
arine, Ed.  Lassittir  of  Falfurrias,  C.  C.  Slaughter  of  Dallas, 
Burke  Burnett  of  Fort  Worth,  Jot  Gunter,  Sol,  Ike  and  George 
West,  James  T.  Thornton,  John  J.  Stevens,  Nat  Lewis,  W.  S. 
Hall,  Henry  Shiner,  Louis  Oge,  all  of  San  Antonio;  W.  S.  Por- 
ter and  George  Witting  of  Yorktown,  the  Toms  of  Floresville 
and  Atascosa  County,  Ray  Franklin,  the  Wheelers  and  Kuy- 
kendalls,  the  Teels,  Charley  Pyrne,  all  of  McMullen  County; 
the  Bells,  Dillard  R.  Fant  of  Live  Oak  County,  Al  McFaddin, 
the  McCutcheons,  Archie  Clark  and  Tom  O'Connor  of  Vic- 
toria, Albert  Irvin,  Hines  Clark,  Nick  Bluntzer,  all  of  Nueces 
County;  the  Taylors,  Roeder,  Eckhart  and  the  Bells  of  De- 
Witt  County;  Joe  Tumlinson  of  Yorktown,  Ike  T.  Pryor,  all  of 
whom  owned  large  herds  of  cattle.  Albert  Irvin  and  Chas. 
Callaghan  owned  great  herds  of  goats  near  Laredo  and  Jas. 
Kinney  owned  many  head  of  sheep. 

Another  of  the  cattle  kings  was  "Shanghigh"  Pierce 
of  Goliad,  while  Btick  Pettus  of  Karnes,  was  still  another. 
The  West  brothers,  George,  Sol  and  Ike,  all  living  now  in  San 
Antonio,  owned  immense  herds  in  Liveoak  and  other  adjacent 
counties,  while  Louis  Oge,  another  San  Antonian,  owned  many 
thousand  head  of  cattle  and  often  now  recounts  many  incidents 
of  the  trail  when  cattle  were  driven  on  the  hoof  to  Kansas. 
But  most  of  the  old  cattle  kings  are  dead.  Maverick  and 
King  sleep  not  far  apart  on  the  white  hill  in  the  silent  city  of 
the  dead  on  the  edge  of  San  Antonio.  Fulton,  Coleman, 
Rabb  and  Pierce  as  well  as  Kennedy  and  Matthis  have  been 
called  to  that  boundless  ranch  beyond  the  Great  Divide. 
Jim   Dobie    has    sold  most    of    his    large  herd.     Jim  Cliittim 


134      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

and  Davidson  have  left  but  a  few  in  number  compared  to 
what  they  once  owned  at  their  ranch  near  old  Ft.  Clark. 
Dillard  R.  Fant  who  owned  hundreds  of  thousands  of  steers 
and  acres  sleeps  his  last  sleep  at  Goliad  and  most,  if  not  all 
of  the  old  "Longhorn"  cattle  have  passed  away,  there  being 
but  a  few  left,  most  of  these  being  in  Mexico  and  down  on 
the  Rio  Grande  near  Brownsville.  Gail  Borden  of  Colum- 
bus, originator  of  condensed  milk,  and  his  son  Guy,  both 
have  passed  away. 

Several  years  ago  Jim  Dobie  and  George  Saunders  ex- 
hibited specimens  of  "outlaw"  longhorned  Texas  steers  at 
the  San  Antonio  International  Fair  after  which  these  animals, 
the  last  mundane  "Mohicans"  of  that  class  of  animals,  were 
sent  to  slaughter.  Their  heads  with  the  broad  horns  were 
mounted  by  a  taxidermist  and  may  be  seen  at  a  resort  in  San 
Antonio,  noted  for  the  large  horn  collection  there. 

With  the  passing  of  the  longhorn  there  also  went  the 
typical  Texas  cow-boy.  He  was  sometimes  somewhat  soaked 
in  "tangle-foot"  tipple,  was  always  rampant,  carried  and 
wielded  with  deadly  effect  his  famous  "six-shooter"  revolver 
and  terrorized  the  tenderfoot.  The  literature  of  yesterday 
was  replete  with  his  thrilling  and  hair  lifting  exploits.  But 
the  cowboy  of  today  is  as  docile  as  the  "muley"  cow  that  his 
gentle  sister  milks  at  sundown  and  he,  eke  at  break  of  day. 

And  from  the  prairie  has  passed  all  but  the  coyote  and 
the  rattlesnake  that  were  found  along  the  old  cattle  trail  and 
still  sneak  or  glide  stealthily  among  the  chaparral  and  the 
tall  grass  that  now  grows  over  its  former  broad   expanse. 

And  San  Antonio  was  once  the  greatest  wool  market 
of  the  world,  there  having  in  the  early  seventies  of  the  last 
century  and  even  as  late  as  the  early  80 's,  been  more  sheep 
in  the  region  tributary  to  that  market  than  in  Australia  or 
any  other  portion  of  the  globe.  In  those  days,  the  great  wool 
kings  were  Ed.  Cotulla,  T.  C.  Frost,  the  Halff's  and  towards 
the  latter  part,  T.  H.  Zanderson,  while  Charles  Schreiner,  of 
Kerrville,  then  and  even  now  markets  many  hundred  thousand 
pounds  of  that  staple.  Jim  McLymont,  probably  was  the 
largest  individual  sheep  owner  in  the  world  before  he  sold  to 
Swift  &  Co.  his  big  mutton  herd  because  the  tarriff  on  wool 
had  been  reduced  so  low  as  to  render  sheep  raising  unprofitable 
in   comparison  to   what   it   had  been. 

During  one  of  the  seasons,  not  years,  of  the    70's  there 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Im.mortal  Heroes      135 

were  sold  in  and  shipped  from  San  Antonio  more  than  11,000,- 
000  pounds  of  wool,  this  having  been  a  single  clip  of  the  fall 
wool  sheared  in  the  sheep  raising  regions  around  here. 

But  to  return  to  transjDortation  from  which  we  went 
wool  gathering,  there  were  many  prominent  people  interested 
in  wagon  transportation  in  the  West,  among  those  in  San 
Antonio  being  Messrs.  Harden  B.  Adams  and  his  partner  E.  D. 
L.  Wickes,  Nat  Lewis  Sr.  and  his  partner,  Groesbeck,  Edward 
Froboese  and  August  Santleben,  A.  Talamantes,  Peter  Jonas, 
Henry  Bitter,  Louis  Oge,  x\.  A.  Wulff,  Charles  Guerguin, 
Jesus  Hernandez,  William  H.  Edgar,  Anastacio  Gonzales, 
Enoch  Jones  and  a  host  of  others,  of  whom  but  few  are  now 
alive,  among  these  latter  being  August  Santleben,  author  of  a 
very  interesting  book,  "A  Texas  Pioneer"  and  Louis  Oge, 
who  was  also  one  of  the  very  prominent  cattlemen  of  early 
Texas  days,  their  teams  having  hauled  many  millions  of 
dollars  worth  of  stores  and  government  supplies  to  the  old 
forts  on  the  frontier  as  well  as  the  merchandise  that  went 
to  the  border  towns  and  into  the  interior  of  Mexico. 

But  the  wagons  were  not  the  only  means  of  transportation. 
Passenger  traction  has  ever  been  an  important  factor  in  the 
proposition  of  transportation  and  before  the  advent  of  the 
railways,  many  different  means  and  vehicles  were  used  in  this 
connection,  but  the  most  prominent  equipage  for  that  purpose 
devoted  to  public  traft'ic  was  the  old  time  stage  coach.  There 
were  many  stage  lines  in  Texas  but  the  principal  and  most 
prominent  ones  were  those  owned  by  an  uncle  of 
mine,  Robert  Jemison,  and  his  partner,  Ben  Ficklin,  and 
the  one  owned  by  Col.  George  H.  Giddings.  The  latter's 
heirs  now  have  a  claim  for  several  millions  of  dollars  against 
the  United  States  government  for  damages  done  to  the  vehicles, 
animals  and  other  property  of  his  line  by  the  Indians  who 
frequently  attacked  the  occupants  of  the  stages,  murdered 
them,  carried  off  the  animals  hauling  them  and  Inu'ned  the 
vehicles.  The  Indians  also  frequently  attacked  the  freight 
trains,  ran  off  the  animals,  slew  the  teamsters  and  those  with 
the  trains,  sometimes  torturing  their  victims.  Up  to  very 
recently  there  was  an  old  man,  a  beggar  on  San  Antonio, 
who  was  with  one  of  the  wagon  trains  in  charge  of  Anastascio 
Gonzales,  and  several  other  men  and  a  woman  were  coming 
from  El  Paso  with  this  train.  It  was  attacked  by  the  Indians 
who  carried  the  woman  off  with  them  after  roasting  Gonzales 


136      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

and  his  companions  tying  them  to  the  wagon  wheels  to  which 
the  Indians  set  fire.  This  old  man  was  found  alive  by  those 
who  rescued  him,  but  with  both  hands  burned  off.  His 
•comDanions  were  dead  when  relief  came.  The  house  Anas- 
tacio  Gonzales  had  commenced  to  build  before  he  left  San 
Antonio  on  this  trip  was  never  finished.  It  stands  on  North 
Loredo  Street,  near  Salinas,  just  as  he  left  it, 

The  old  Ben  Ficklin  stage  office  was  in  the  building  on 
Alamo  Plaza  next  to  where  Dreiss'  drug  store  is  now.  Henry 
Carter  and  Charley  Bain,  both  deceased,  were  its  agents.  But 
few  of  the  old  time  stage  drivers  are  still  alive,  among  those 
who  have  answered  the  long  roll-call  are  T.  P.  Mc  Call,  former 
sheriff,  "Pap"  Howard,  Tom  Finucane  and  his  brother  Jim, 
two  brothers  with  whom  I  first  came  to  San  Antonio  from 
Austin  when  a  boy,  from  Louisiana  to  Texas.  Among  those 
still  living  are  Clay  Drennan,  Jim  Brown,  and  August  Sant- 
leben.    The   latter   owned   his   stage   line. 

All  of  these  old  stage  drivers  had  exciting  adventures. 
Not  only  did  they  have  many  narrow  escapes  from  Indians 
who  attacked  theixi  but  they  were  frequently  held  up  by  "road 
agents"  or  highwaymen,  who  robbed  them,  their  passengers 
and  the  registered  mail  their  stages  carried.  Of  the  San 
Antonians  now  living  who  were  in  such  robberies  were  George 
W.  Brackenridge  and  Oscar  Bergstrom,  who  were  passengers 
in  the  stage  of  which  "Pap"  Howard  was  the  driver  at  Nance 
stage  stand  near  the  Blanco  river,  a  short  distance  from  San 
Marcos  on  the  San  Antonio  and  Austin  road,  and  Alfred  Giles 
who  was  a  passenger  with  Brown  on  the  Fredericksburg  stage 
near  Comfort.  There  were  in  this  affair  two  robbers  known 
as  the  "long  and  the  short"  man,  who  compelled  Giles  to  help 
them  rifle  the  mail  sacks.  They  took  his  gold  watch  but  he 
recovered  it  and  still  has  the  trophy.  ;    ^ 

Besides  the  stages  which  were  common  carriers  there 
were  many  prominent  coaches  of  state  owned  by  pioneers 
who  traveled  in  them.  These  vehicles,  somewhat  cumberson, 
were  rather  royal  and  were  upholstered  lavishly  and  had 
mountings  and  trappings,  as  did  the  harness  and  housings 
of  the  horses  that  drew  them,  while  their  drivers  wore  livery, 
the  owners  putting  on  great  style  and  dignity  which  however 
they  very  suddenly  sunk  when  attacked  by  Indians  or  high- 
waymen. Then  they  usually  attempted  to  make  their  get- 
away with  as  much  despatch  as  possible. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lm.mortal  Heroes       137 

One  of  the  prominent  families  of  pioneers  who  owned 
the  most  hirid  of  all  of  the  coaches  was  the  Paschal  family 
mentioned  in  another  part  of  this  volume.  But  the  Grenets 
had  a  coach  they  brought  out  from  France  that  was  also  a 
very  gaudy  affair,  patterned  somewhat  after  the  coaches  in 
which  the  Great  Napoleon  and  the  ill-starred  Maximillian 
rode  before  their  respective  downfalls.  But  the  horse  and 
the  mule  were  also  favorite  means  of  transportation,  and 
many   long   pilgrimages   and   journeys   were   made   on   them. 

Then  there  was  the  old  time  family  carriage  with  a  device 
in  its  rear  on  which  either  to  hang  a  trunk  or  the  urchin  that 
accompanied  it.  But  besides  the  barouches  and  buggies 
there  were  many  styles  and  kinds  of  vehicles  too  numerous 
to  mention  and  all  running  down  through  the  gamut  including 
the  bicycle,  the  auto  car,  the  locomotive  and  palace  car,  and 
to  the  very  latest  aeroplane  now  making  daily  flights  with 
its  human  freight.  Thus  have  we  traveled  from  the  pace  of 
the  tortoise  and  in  the  ox-cart  to  that  of  the  full  fledged  flight 
of  the  fleet  fowl  as  we  sail  in  the  air  ship. 


THE     ZOUAVES^  FLAG. 

This   flag  is   a  token  of  sentiment   spoken. 

It  speaks  of  their  parting  and  sorrow. 
But  it  bids  you  not  grieve  like  the  love'd  ones  you  leave. 

It  speaks  of  fresh  hopes  for  each   'morrow. 

Wherever  you  may  roam,  'twill  remind  you  of  home, 
Recalling   those   fond   hearts   far   away 

Who   lovingly   sent   it — For  whom   I   present   it 
On   this   broad,    tented   field   here   today. 

Than  all  else,  too,  above,  it  tells  you  of  their  love. 

'Tis  hallow'd  by  womanhood's  beauty, 
While  its  touch  from  her  hand  was  a  solemn  command 

Laid   on   you   of   honor   and   duty. 

In  each  stripe  and  each  fold,  is  an  emblem,  behold, 

Of  love  and  touching  sweet  story. 
While  its  stars,  like  the  eyes  of  the  women  you  prize. 

Make  brighter  the  field  with  their  glory. 


138      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


OROUP    OF    SAN'    ANTOXIO    ZOUAVES.        CAFTAIX    EUGENE    HERNANDEZ    IN    CENTER. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      139 


CHAPTER  Xni. 

MEN    OF    MARTIAL    MIEN.       THE    COURAGEOUS    SPIRIT    WHICH    ANI- 
MATED   ALL    TRUE    TEXANS.    VOLUNTEER    AND    REGULAR    OR- 
GANIZATIONS THAT  FURNISHED    WARRIORS  AND   HEROES. 

Many  of  this  Nation's  immortal  heroes,  who  were  ani- 
mated by  that  indomitable  spirit  inculcated  by  the  conquest 
of  this  continent  by  the  Caucasian,  thus  were  made  men 
of  martial  mien.  They  have  evinced  the  same  inconquer- 
able  courage  manifested  not  only  by  the  Spanish  and  French 
conquistadores,  cavaliers  and  chevaliers  as  well  as  the  American 
soldiers,  but  by  the  aboriginal  Red  Men,  all  of  whom  exhibi- 
ted undaunted  valor.  All  served  as  exemplars  and  made 
martial  attributes  innate  in  all  true  sons  of  Texas.  Most  of 
the  illustrious  warriors  of  this  Nation,  while  chronicling 
their  careers  with  their  swords,  spent  some  portion  of 
time  there  when  Texas  was  either  a  republic  or  a  state  and 
most  of  them  in  its  most  historic  of  cities,  San  Antonio.  All 
of  them  contributed  considerably  to  the  success  of  the  Nation, 
State  and  this  City. 

This  most  masterful  one  w^as  the  incentive  that  has  in- 
spired the  sons  of  this  state  and  city  to  do  deeds  of  bravery 
and  engage  in  battle  whenever  war  was  on.  From  her  earliest 
days,  in  proportion  to  her  population,  San  Antonio  has  fur- 
nished more  soldiery  for  the  ranks  of  various  armies  than 
any  other  city  extant.  Such  has  been  the  case  from  the  com- 
bat at  the  Alamo  to  the  close  of  the  Spanish- American,  that 
short  but  brilliant  and  memorable  war.  Such  was  the  case 
not  only  in  the  war  for  Texan  independence  froin  Mexico, 
but  the  war  between  the  Union  and  Mexico  growing  out  of 
of  it,   and  the  Civil   War. 

Her  chivalric  sons  have  not  only  enlisted  in  and  recruited 
to  full  quota  the  ranks  of  the  regulars,  but  her  volunteer  or- 
ganizations  have   been  likewise   as   numerous   as  historic. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  between  Texas  and  Mexico  the 
first  Texan  soldiers  were  known  as  her  "Rangers,"  well  named, 
for  they  rode  far  and  long  in  pursuit  of  her  foes,  the  Indians 
and  the  outlaws.  Her  most  famous  commander.  Jack  Hays, 
was  a  San  Antonian,  as  were  others  almost  as  famous,  among 
them  being  "Legs"  Lewis,  "Big  Foot"  Wallace,  "San  An- 
tonio Bill"  Hall,    "Rip"   Ford,    E.   Dosch,   Theodore    Gentilz, 


GUCn'P    OF    BELKXAF    J.IFLES.        CAPTAIX    K.    B.    GREEN    IN    CENTER. 


Conquests  ard  Combats  of  I.maiortal  Heroes       141 

J.  W.  Sansom,  John  Earl,  Fred  Bader,  J.  S.  McNeil,  Charles 
Hummel,  "Net"  Devine,  Edgar  Schram,  Lee  Hall  and  'Bill" 
Edgar. 

Besides  San  Antonio's  ranger  troops  she  had  numerous 
militia  and  other  military  volunteer  organizations,  conspic- 
uous in  many  campaigns.  Her  first  was  the  militia  company 
known  as  the  Alamo  Rifles,  formed  in  1857  with  John  Wilcox 
as  its  first  commander  and  with  sixty  members  and  mustered 
in  the  old  U.  S.  Barracks,  recently  demoHshed  to  give  place 
to  the  Gunter  Hotel.  It  saw  its  first,  which  was  stern 
and  long  service  throughout  the  Civil  War  to  which  it  marched 
under  command  of  S.  W.  McAllister,  who  after  was  succeeded 
in  command  by  George  S.  D eats,  subsequently  known  as  "The 
One  Horse  Farmer."  After  the  war  its  first  commander 
was  Hardin  B.  Adams,  Sr.  Soon  after  its  return  from  war 
one  of  its  lieutenants,  Harry  McCormick,  died  very  suddenly. 
In  1876,  the  Centennial  year,  A.  I.  Lockwood  was  its  com- 
mander and  it  attended  the  first  state  militia  encampment 
held  at  Austin  w^here  Lockwood  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  major,  which  advanced  G.  W.  Runner  to  captain.  Its 
armory  then  was  in  the  old  Martin  Muench  establishment 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  Alamo  and  South  Streets  that  also 
subsequently  served  as  a  theater.  J.  C.  Neal  succeeded  Runner 
and  in  turn  was  succeeded  by  A.  Frederickson.  Oscar  Bergstrom, 
who  had  been  first  a  drummer  boy,  became  its  first  and  Charles 
M.  Barnes,  myself,  second  lieutenant  and  such  were  its  officers 
when  it  and  they  were  honorably  mustered  out  of  the  service 
at  its  armory  in  Krisch  Hall 

The  Alamo  Guards  was  the  second  vohmteer  mihtary 
organization  formed  in  San  Antonio  in  1859.  WilHam  H. 
Edgar  was  its  first  captain,  James  Ransom  its  first  and  Horace 
Grace  and  John  Goode  its  second  lieutenants.  It  had  one 
hundred  and  twenty  members.  The  ladies  of  San  Antonio 
made  for  and  xjresented  it  a  genuine  "Bonnie  Blue  Flag"  that 
bore  a  single  star.  The  motto  on  it  was:  "Fiat  Justicia,  Ruat 
Coelum,"  "Though  the  Heavens  Fall,  Let  Justice  Be  done." 
This  company  performed  the  first  military  duty  in  Texas  for 
the  Confederacy  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  W^ar.  From 
Samuel  A.  Maverick,  Sr.  president,  of  the  secession  convention 
then  in  session,  Captain  Edgar  received  an  order  to  seize  a 
safe  in  the  hands  of  the  United  States  Quartermaster,  Captain 
Reynolds,  containing  S3, ()()()  in  silver  and  other  U.  S.  Currency. 
It  is  needless  to  say  that  Edgar  obeyed  this,  as  he  did  all  other 


142      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


military  commands,  and  turned  the  captured  coin  over  to 
Major  Minter,  the  Confederacy's  Quartermaster.  In  this 
connection  it  is  appropriate  to  state  that  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  War  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  was  colonel  and  Robert 


/ 


jiM-^^-'mSiu 


COLONEL    AUGUSTUS    BELKNAP,    FOUNDER     SAN     ANTQNIO     STREET     RAILWAY     SYSTEM.        FORMER  PRESIDENT 
ARANSAS     PASS     RAILWAY,  PATRON      OF     BELKNAP     RIFLES. 

E.  Lee,  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  United  States  Second  Dra- 
goons, whose  headquarters  was  at  vSan  Antonio,  Johnston 
and  Lee  having  their  quarters  in  an  old  two  story  adobe  house 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      143 

recently  destroyed,  located  on  St.  Mary's  near  Houston  street 
and  owned  by  a  man  named  White  who  died  recently.  The 
ladies  of  the  local  chapter  of  Daughters  of  the  Confederacy 
vainly  attempted  to  purchase  it,  previous  to  its  destruction 
to  give  place  to  a  commercial  edifice. 

Johnson,  immediately  on  the  outbreak  of  the  War,  threw 
up  his  command  and  became  a  general  officer  of  the  Confederac}^. 
Lee  waited  until  the  people  of  his  state  Virginia,  voted  to  se- 
cede from  the  Union.  He  was  then  out  at  Camp  Cooper, 
but  came  immediately  into  San  Antonio,  doffed  his  uniform 
and  stored  his  effects  in  the  Alamo  except  such  as  was  necessary 
for  his  journey. 

William  H.  Edgar  was  the  custodian  of  the  Alamo 
and  received  them  from  Lee,  who  also  handed  to  Edgar 
his  resignation  as  an  officer  of  the  United  States  i\rmy  and 
asked  Edgar  to  mail  it  for  him,  which  Edgar  did.  The  docu- 
ment did  not  reach  the  designated  destination  and  on  arrival 
at  his  home  in  Arlington  Lee  wrote  another,  the  one  that  was 
accepted.  When  Lee  handed  the  paper  to  Edgar  to  mail  he 
was  asked  his  plans  to  which  Lee  replied: 

"I  am  going  home  to  Virginia  to  cast  my  lot  with  her. 
My  sword  is  at  her  service.  If  I  am  honored  with  any  com- 
mand, no  matter  how  humble,  I  shall  accept  it  and  perform 
its  incident  duties  to  the  best  of  my  ablity.  Further  than 
this  I  cannot  speak." 

Sibley's  Brigade  whicli  invaded  New  Mexico  was  organized 
in  San  Antonio,  Joseph  D.  Sayers,  Trevanion  T.  Teel  and 
Joseph  E.  Dwyer,  its  three  majors,  were  San  Antonians  as  were 
Juan  T.  Cardenas.  John  A.  Ferris,  Frank  H.  Bushick,  Sr., 
Captains,  and  Ham  P.  Bee  afterward  a. general  officer  of  the 
Confederacy. 

Hood's  Brigade  and  Terry's  Rangers,  both  highly  famous 
and  conspicuous  commands  in  the  Civil  War,  were  Texas  or- 
ganizations, and  John  B.  Hood,  like  Lee,  had  previously  been 
a  prominent  United  States  Army  officer.  Henry  E.  McCulloch 
recruited  his  famous  Confederate  cavalry  in  San  Antonio, 
x^mong  its  distinguished  officers  who  were  residents  of  that 
city  being  David  Morril  Poor,  Charles  Pyron.  Governor  Nel- 
son, William  Tobin,  Albert  Wallace,  John  Bradley,  Martin 
Braden,  Stephen  Dauenhauer,  Jam.es  H.  Kampmann,  N.  O. 
and  J.  A.  Green.  "Rip"  Ford,  and  W.  C.  and  C.  F.  Kroeger. 
Louis  Maverick  was  also  another  distinguished  San  Antonio 
soldier,  as  also  was  Sam  Maverick,  Jr.,  his  brother. 


144      Co:\iBATs  AND  Conquests  of  lAnioRTAL  Heroes 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lm^iortal  Heroes      145 

A  command  consisting  of  those  who  either  were  too  old 
or  too  young  to  be  accepted  in  service  at  the  front  was  or- 
ganized in  San  Antonio,  prominent  among  its  members  having 
been  the  brothers  Thomas  ].,  Greggory  and  James  Devine  and 
Sam  S.  Smith. 

San  Antonio  also  contributed  members  to  two  companies 
of  vokniteer  United  States  soldiers,  B.  J.  Mauermann  being 
a  member  of  one   of  them. 

During  the  interegnum  between  the  Civil  and  the  Span- 
ish American  wars,  the  next  volunteer  miHtary  organization 
was  the  San  Antonio  Rifles,  organized  in  1884,  their  first  patron 
having  been  the  genial  and  generous  Hal  Goshng,  and  their 
last  the  popular  Colonel  Henry  B.  Andrews.  Its  first  captain 
was  C.  M.  Granger,  Henry  E.  Vernor  its  first  and  Duval  West 
its  second  lieutenant.  Frank  J.  Badger  succeeded  Granger; 
Duval  West  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant  and  Perry  J. 
Lewis  became  second  lieutenant.  It  scon  became  the  crack 
military  company  of  the  state.  It  was  so  splendidly  drilled 
that  it  defeated  the  famous  Houston  Light  Guard  until  then 
never  before  vanquished;  and  the  Sealey  Rifles,  likewise  a 
well  drilled  company,  as  well  as  several  other  prominent  com- 
panies. Three  of  its  officers,  Oscar  C.  Guessaz,  Duval  West 
and  Albert  E.  Devine,  held  commissions  in  the  volunteer  ar- 
my and  served  gallantly  with  the  Texas  Volunteer  Infantry  in 
the  Cuban  campaign  in  the  Spanish  American  war.  Devine 
after  that  war  served  as  Colonel  and  Assista^nt  U.  S.  Quarter- 
master General  in  charge  of  United  vStates  equipment  of  the 
Texas  National  Guard.  Guessaz  became  Lieutenant  Colonel 
and  Chief  of  Ordnance  of  the  Texas  National  Guard.  He 
is  a  splendid  marksman,  has  been  on  the  rifle  team  of  the 
Guard  many  years  and  holds  numerous  gold  and  other  m.edals 
for  his  shooting  scores  made  at  the  annual  national  army 
competitions. 

Two  causes  combined  to  consummate  the  disbandment 
of  the  San  Antonio  Rifles.  One  was  matrimon}^  Most  of 
the  most  prominent  and  most  gallant  of  its  miCmbership,  as 
was  natural,  were  vanquished  by  fair  conquerors  who  made 
them  enlist  in  the  army  of  Benedicts.  This  left  them  no  time 
to  attend  to  military  duties  in  time  of  peace.  The  other  was 
the  fact  that  this  company  was  defeated  by  one  composed 
of  much  more  youthful  members  and  contemptuously  referred 
to    as    the    "Kid    Company." 


146      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

This  latter  was  the  Beh^nap  Rifles.  It  was  comprised 
of  a  membership  so  adolescent  that  it  was  considered  ineligi- 
ble to  enlistment  into  the  ranks  of  its  competitor  above  aamed . 
Its  first  patron  was  the  late  Colonel  Augustus  Belknap,  and 
its  last  :Capt.  Sam  Maverick.  Captain  Robert  B.  Green  led 
it  to  victory  in  numerous  state  competitive  and  one  interstate 


YOUNG     WEHFIXG,     MASCOT     OF     SAN     AXTONIO    ZOUAVES. 


drills  where  it  captured  many  trophies  and  some  money  prizes. 
One  of  the  latter  that  it  won  at  Washington  D.  C,  the  sum 
of  one  thousand  dollars,  was  never  paid.  It  defeated  the 
San  Antonio  Rifles,  when  the  latter  held  the  championship, 
and  many'  other  of  the  finest  drilled  companies  in  Texas  and 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lm.mortal  Heroes      147 

other  states.  "Bob"  Green,  as  his  comrades  affectionately 
called  him,  later  became  Colonel  and  Judge  Advocate  General 
of  the  Texas  National  Guard.  At  the  time  of  his  sudden  death 
he  was  county  Judge  of  Bexar  county.  Among  others  who 
became  its  captains  were  Will  C.  Rote,  Will  Herff,  John  W. 
Tobin,  Hal  Howard  and  Solon  Mc  Adoo,  and  its  lieutenants  were 
E.  W.  Richardson,  W.  B.  Hamilton,  W.  G.  Tobin,  and  J.  F. 
Green.  Among  its  prominent  charter  and  early  members 
were,  besides  the  above  named,  Frank  H.  Wash,  James  Simpson, 
Lee  W.  Earnest,  George  W.  Chamberlain,  George  Dashiel,  George 
Wurzbach,  James  R.  Davis,  Carlos  and  Tarver  Bee,  Zoraster 
Fisk,  Louis.  William  and  George  Heuermann,  Otto  Storms, 
Ed  G.  and  William  Sengg,  H.  Heuermann,  Frank  James 
Guido  Ditmar,  R.  J.  Boyle,  Harden  W.  Adams,  N.  0.  Green, 
Louis  W.  Degen,  Phil  H.  Shook,  H.  C.  King,  Jr.,  H.  L. 
Howard,  Nic  L.  Petrich,  Henry  L.  Marucheau,  Hal  Howard, 
Wm.  Prescott,  J.  C.  Mangham,  J.  J.  Volz,  and  Emil  Blum. 

When  the  Spanish  American  War  came  on  this  company 
split  in  twain,  one  half  forming  an  infantry  and  the  other  a 
cavalry  command.  The  infantry  organization  was  then  headed 
by  Solon  McAdoo,  W.  B.  Hamilton,  Jr.,  and  Raymond  Keller 
being  its  lieutenants.  It  was  known  as  Company  F,  1st  Texas 
U.  S.  Infantry  Volunteers.  The  cavalry  troop  was  one  of 
the  1st  Texas  Cavalry  U.  S.  Volunteers,  the  regiment  organized 
and  commanded  by  Luther  R.  Hare,  the  Captain  of  the  Belknap 
Troop  being  John  A.  Green,  Jno.  W.  Tobin,  first  lieutenant 
and  Hal  L.  Howard  its  first  lieutenant.  The  Infantry 
organization  got  away  to  war.  It  went  to  Cuba, 
being  stationed  near  Havana  from  December  1898  to  April 
1899,  when  it  was  mustered  out.  Captain  McAdoo  became 
a  Colonel  in  the  Texas  National  Guard,  but  the  climate  of 
Cuba  undermined  his  health  and  he  died  in  San  Antonio  a  short 
time  after  returning  from  that  war. 

The  San  Antonio  Zouaves  was  the  next  volunteer  miUtary 
organization  formed  in  San  Antonio,  its  natal  day  being  July 
4,  1896.  It  soon  became  another  of  that  city's  crack  com- 
panies, winning  numerous  state  and  interstate  prizes  and 
trophies.  Its  first  officers  were  Eugene  Hernandez  Captain, 
Edward  Stapp  first  and  Gabe  Gazell  second  lieutenants.  It 
was  in  line  in  the  Flower  Battle  fete  parade  on  April  21,  1898, 
the  anniversary  of  San  Jacinto  battle  and  the  day  on  which 
President  McKinley  issued  his  proclamation  declaring  war 
by  the  United  States  against  Spain.     The  Zouaves  happened 


148      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lm.aiortal  Heroes 

to  be  briefly  halted  before  the  telegraph  office  when  a  bulletin 
was  posted  there  announcing  the  war  declaration.  Unanimously 
the  company  voted  to  volunteer  for  service  and  instructed  its 
captain  at  once  to  tender  the  President  its  military  services  which 
was  done  forthwith  and  the  tender  accepted.  This  company 
was  the  first  to  so  volunteer  and  to  have  its  ofter  accepted  by 
the  President.  All  of  its  members  but  one,  went  to  and  through 
the  war.  Many  men  offered  and  paid  high  premiums  to  be- 
come members  and  march  off  with  it. 

When  the  Belknap's  infantry  company  marched  away  from 
San  Antonio  at  the  same  time  that  the  Zouaves  did,  going  to 


CAPTAIN    SAM    MAVERICK. 


the  war,  the  Belknap  company  carried  w^ith  it  a  Texas  flag 
presented  by  Elsa  Weiss,  grand  daughter  of  Colonel  Belknap. 
The  Zouaves  then  carried  no  flag,  but  a  short  time  after  the 
latter  company  left  home  the  mothers,  sisters,  wives  and  sweet- 
hearts of  its  members  met  and  resolved  to  send  them  one.  I 
was  selected  to  carry  it  to  them  to  Camp  Coppinger,  Spring 
Hill,  Alabama,  near  Mobile  where,  with  ten  thousand  other 
troops,  the  Zouaves  were  encamped.  When  I  discharged  this 
duty  Mrs.  Blair,  formerly  Miss  Weir,  a  daughter  of  San  Antonio, 
held  the  banner  during  the  delivery  of  my  presentation  address. 
At  its  conclusion  one  of  the  two  bands  present  played,  "The 
vStar  Spangled  Banner,"  while  the  other  at  the  end  of  the  res- 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      149 

ponse  by  Captain  Hernandez  played,  "The  Old  FollvS  at  Home," 
both  airs  being  very  appropriate  to  the  occasion. 

Zouave  Flag  Presentation  Address. 

My  poem,  The  Zouaves  Flag,  published  as  the  prelude  to 
this  chapter,  concluded  my  address  when  I  presented  this 
historic   flag.     The   address   was   brief.     It   ran   thus: 

Captain  Hernandez,  brave  soldiers   forming    the  San  An- 


HISTORIC  SAN  ANTONIO   ZOUAVES   FLAG  FLOATING  OVER  MORRO   CASTLE  AT  HAVANA,   FOLLOWING   THE 
SURRENDER     OF     THAT     CITADEL.       FROM     PHOTO     TAKEN     THEN. 


tonio  Zouaves,  my  friends  and  my  countrymen:  The  citizens 
of  San  Antonio  have  honored  me  by  selecting  me  to  bear  to 
you  for  them  this,  their  gracious  gift,  a  standard  of  our  great  and 
noble  nation,  fit  emblem  of  its  grandeur  and  glory.  Had 
not  your  country's  cause  called  you  away  so  suddenly  they 
would,  themselves,  more  acceptably  have  in  person  presented 
it,  ere  you  parted  from  them  and  left  your  bright  and  happy 
homes.     But  deprived   of  the  pleasure  of  placing  it  in  your 


150      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

hands,  those  patriotic  donors  whose  beautiful  gift  it  is,  chose 
me  instead  to  bring  it  to  you  here.  • 

Chiefly  through  the  efforts  of  noble  and  unselfish  ladies, 
the  fair  sisterhood  of  our  Sunset  City,  it  was  secured.  They 
rested  little  and  seldom  slept  while  securing  the  means  to 
make  the  purchase  of  this  elegant  ensign.  As  a  token  of  their 
tender  trtist  and  gentle  affection  I  bring  it  to  you.  Thus  they 
suitably  express  their  unbounded  affection  with  a  most  appro- 
priate  offering. 

Each  color  of  its  folds  is  emblematic:  the  red  of  the  glory 
they  expect  you  to  achieve,  the  white  the  purity  of  their 
affection  for  you,  and  the  blue  their  full  faith  in  you.  As  it 
droops  on  its  staff  it  portrays  the  grief  they  felt  at  your  leaving 
them,  but  when  freely  it  floats  full  spread,  its  resplendent  gold 
fringed  borders  typify  the  rapture  that  will  animate  them 
on  your  victorious  return. 

Its  staff  is  tipped  with  the  single  star,  emblematic  of  your 
owm  Lone  Star  State,  most  suitable  device  to  be  borne  to  battle 
by  her  sons.  Her  people  hope  it  may  be  chosen  as  the  standard 
of  your  regiment:  that  you  may  be  the  color  company  to 
bear  it. 

Carry  it  with  you  unsullied  and  bring  it  back  untarnished, 
as  they  know  you  will,  after  you  shall  have  placed  it  upon 
the  topmost  pinnacle  surmounting  the  loftiest  peak  of  the  soil 
where  Spain  so  long  and  so  treacherously  has  ruled.  Let 
the  American  Eagle  on  it  above  its  lone  star  be  perched  upon 
the  tallest  tower  of  the  uppermast  battlement  of  Morro's  cre- 
nallated  castle.  Let  it  supplant  Spain's  sickening  saffron  and 
sanguinary  crimson  soon  to  be  torn  down  and  there  proudly 
let  these  stars  and  these  stripes  float  and  wave  above  Cuba 
Libre,  an  appropriate  emblem  of  freedom  attained  for  her 
by  you,  its  bearers. 

As  bravely  you  bear  it  always  forward  let  it  ever  be  in 
the  van  and  float  at  the  forefront  of  the  field  and  in  the  fray. 
As  you  advance  with  the  charge  let  your  battle  cries  be: 

"Remember  the  Alamo,"   "Avenge  the  Maine." 

The  Zouaves  flag  was  one  of  a  set  of  regulation  United 
States  regimental  colors.  The  Zouaves  were  chosen  as  the  color 
company  of  their  regiment.  Sergeant  Louis  Magozawich  was 
made  its  color  bearer.  The  1st  Texas  Infantry  w^as  the  first 
regiment  of  United  States  troops  to  land  at  Havana,   Cuba. 


CO.AIBATS    AND    CONQUESTS    OF    ImMORTAL    HeROES         151 

This  flag  was  the  first  regimental  flag  to  float  above  Morro 
Castle  there.  I  have  not  only  a  cablegram  from  Capt.  Eugene 
Hernandez  announcing  that  fact  on  the  day  it  was  hoisted  there 
but  the  truth  is  attested  by  the  photograph,  taken  at  the  time 
sent  me  subsequently  and  reproduced  in  this  book.  It  was 
not  however  the  first  United  States  flag  to  float  there.  A  gar- 
rison flag  succeeded  the  one  of  Spain  when  the  latter  was 
hauled  down  and  the  American  ensign  carried  by  the  hal- 
yards to  the  staff's  tip. 

After  the  war,  when  the  company  re-entered  the  militia 
service  subsequent  to  its  having  been  mustered  out  at  Gal- 
veston, I  was  selected  color  bearer  and  the  color  sergeant  of 
the  1st  Texas  Infantry,  Texas  National  Guard,  the  company 
having  again  become  the  color  company  of  its  regiment.  As 
such  sergeant  I  bore  it  at  various  state  encampments.  I 
likewise  bore  it  in  the  land  parade  ovation  to  Admiral  George 
Dewey  at  New  York  on  the  occasion  of  his  triumphal  return 
from  Manilla  in  September,  1899,  when  the  Garrity  Rifles, 
of  Corsicana,  acted  as  its  escort.  Senator  W.  R.  Holsey,  now 
captain  in  the  ordnance  department  Texas  National  Guard, 
being  with  me  on  that  occasion.  I  also  bore  it  in  the  parade 
honoring  President  William  McKinley,  when  on  his  trip  through 
Texas  he  visited  Austin  and  San  Antonio,  but  a  short  time  before 
his  horrible  assassination  in  Buffalo.  On  the  occasion  when 
he  was  in  Austin  the  Zouaves  were  the  President's  body  guard 
and  guard  of  honor.  They  were  grouped  about  him  at  the 
capitol.  The  flag  was  there  close  to  him.  It  remained  in 
my  keeping  until  I  was  promoted  from  an  enlisted  man  to 
the  rank  of  a  commissioned  officer  in  the  Texas  National  Guard, 
when  I  placed  it  in  the  hands  of  Captain  Robert  Schmerbeck, 
then  commander  of  the  Zouaves  and  one  of  its  members  who 
had  hoisted  it  above  Morro.  After  the  company  was  mustered 
out  of  service  it  was  resolved  to  lend  it  to  the  custodian  of 
the  Alamo  church  and  it  was  placed  in  that  edifice  until  the 
women  threatened  to  tear  down  the  Alamo  when  it  was  removed 
and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Captain  Schmerbeck. 

The  honor  of  having  borne  it  and  the  rank  of  its  color 
sergeant,  I  consider  the  highest  I  have  ever  attained.  The 
New  York  World  did  me  the  further  honor  of  pronouncing 
my  poem,  "The  Zouaves  Flag,"  the  best  specimen  of  martial 
verse  inspired  by  the  Spanish  American  war.  Captain  Her- 
nandez,  like  Captain  McAdoo,   of  the  Belknaps,  did  not  live 


152      Combats  and  Coxquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

long  after  that  war.  His  constitution  was  ruined  by  the  cU- 
mate  of  Cuba.  He  died  soon  after  his  return  and  after  attain- 
ing the  rank  of  major  in  the  Texas  National  Guard  and  having 
been  the  Major  General  of  the  Spanish  American  Veteran 
organization. 

Besides  the  Belknaps  and  the  Zouaves,  some  other 
military  organizations  and  regiments,  more  or  less  famous, 
were  organized  in  San  Antonio,  some  participating  in  the  war 
and  the  others  deprived  of  the  chances  to  do  so.  One  of  these 
and  the  most  famous  was  the  First  United  States  Volunteer 
Cavalry,  best  known  as,  "Roosevelt's  Rough  Riders."  Doctor 
Leonard  Wood,  who  had  before  then  been  in  the  medical  de- 
partment of  the  regular  army  and  in  it  had  attained,  justly, 
the  rank  of  major,  was  its  colonel.  The  Honorable  Theodore 
Roosevelt,  former  assistant  Secretary  of  the  Navy  in  President 
McKinley's  first  term,  and  who  resigned  that  position  to 
accept  this  command,  became  its  lieutenant  colonel  and  could, 
had  he  so  said,  have  been  its  colonel.  Major  Brodie,  of  Arizona, 
was  one  of  its  majors.  It  was  mustered  into  service  on  the 
grounds  of  the  International  Fair  Association  in  Riverside 
Park  at  vSan  Antonio  in  May  1898.  Soon  after  it  went  to 
Cuba,  being  the  first  regiment  to  land  at  Las  Guasimas.  It 
figured  in  the  first  fighting  there.  Soon  afterward  Colonel 
Wood  became  a  brigadier  and  its  lieutenant  colonel  succeeded 
him  and  Major  Brodie  became  lieutenant  colonel.  It  figured 
prominently  at  the  battle  of  San  Juan  Hill.  Several  of  its 
most  daring  members  were  killed  among  them  Captain  Bucky 
O'Neil  and  young  Ham  Fish,  the  latter  an  athlete  and  a  giant 
in  stature.  One  of  its  best  known  members  is  private  Lewis 
Maverick,  vice  president  of  the  Rough  Rider's  Association. 
Dr.  Wood  has  since  become  the  ranking  general  officer  of  the 
United  States  army.  Colonel  Roosevelt  in  rapid  succession  be- 
came governor  of  New  York,  Vice  President  and  President  of 
the  United  vStates.  The  latter  position  he  can  have  again  if  he 
but  announces  his  acceptance.  He  is  today  the  greatest  pri 
vate  citizen  of  his  country,  the  great  apostle  of  peace,  and 
one  of  the  real  and  great  men  of  the  world. 

The  next  famous  volunteer  organization  mustered  at  San 
Antonio  was  the  Thirty- third  Infantry,  U.  S.  V.  Luther 
R.  Hare,  a  Texan,  commanded  it.  It  rescued  Lieutenant 
Gilmore  from  captivity  among  the  Philippinos  after  a  march 
that  was  as  tiresome  as  thrilling  and  leaving  the  participants 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lmmortal  Heroes      153 

at  its  end  barefoot  and  little  short  of  being  naked  of  all  except 
of  honor.  Their's  was  a  heroic  achievement.  Frederick  Fun- 
ston,  who,  by  a  ruse,  captured  the  insurgent  leader  Aguinaldo, 
was  given,  and  deserved,  a  brigadier  generalship,  although 
the  task  accomplished  by  him  and  his  regiment  was  not  nearly 
so  full  of  toil  or  peril  as  was  the  trying  one  of  Hare  and  his 
men  on  Gilmore's  trail.  Hare  should  have  been  awarded  a 
star,  but  instead  was  retired  from  the  service  with  the  same 
rank  Wood  had  at  the  commencement  of  the  War,  that  of 
Major.  This  injustice  is  one  of  the  few  unworthy  acts,  or  omis- 
sions, directly  chargeable  to  Roosevelt.  Doubtless  such  a 
great  man  as  he  has  since  regretted  it. 

Among  those  who  distinguished  themselves  by  gallantry 
with  the  Thirty-third  were  Major  Frederick  Hadra,  Captains 
Lee  Hall  and  John  F.  Green,  the  latter  having  been  severely 
wounded.  Sergeant  Radzinsky  who  was  killed,  all  of  these 
being  San  Antonians,  and  Captain  John  A.  Hulen.  With 
the  exception  of  Radzinsky  and  Green  the  others  were  present 
and  participated  personally  in  the  rescue  of  Gilmore.  Green 
is  now  Chief  of  Philippine  police  at  Manilla.  He  enjoys  the 
reputation  of  having  succeeded  in  effecting  the  restoration 
of  every  article  that  has  been  either  lost  or  stolen  since  his 
incumbency  began  in  that  capacity.  It  might  not  be  amiss  to 
have  his  services  applied  in  some  of  the  cities  of  his  own  country. 
Hulen  attained  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General  and  held  the 
position  of  adjutant  general  of  Texas  for  several  terms  before 
his  retirement  to  private  life. 

The  Fourth  Texas  Infantry,  U.  S.  Volunteers,  was  another 
regiment  mustered  into  and  out  of  service  at  San  Antonio, 
like  the  First  Texas  U.  S.  Volunteer  Cavalry  during  the  Spanish 
American  war  without  ever  getting  into  it. 

Besides  the  volunteer  commands  mustered,  several  of 
the  regular  army  organizations  were  recruited  there  and  the 
very  first  United  States  troops  to  reach  the  Philippines,  after 
Dewey's  great  naval  victory,  were  companies  of  the  Eighteenth 
and  Twenty-second  Infantry,  which  went  from  San  Antonio. 
The  Sixth  Infantry,  the  Fifth  and  Tenth  Cavalry  and  Light 
Battery  K,  of  the  First  Artillery  were  troops  recruited  to  proper 
strength  there  and  most  of  them  went  direct  from  there  either 
to  Cuba,  Porto  Rico  or  the  Philippines.  Light  Battery  K 
figured  prominently  at  San  Juan  Hill  in  the  engagement  in 
which  the  gallant  young  San  Antonian,   Garesche  Ord,   was 


154      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

treacherously  slain  by  a  wounded  Spaniard  while  giving  the 
latter  a  drink  of  water  from  his  canteen.  Under  Edgar  Kel- 
logg, who  became  before  his  death,  a  brigadier,  the  Sixth  Infantry 
fought  gallantly  in  both  Cuba  and  the  Philippines.  One  of 
its  majors,  Minor,  who  was  badly  wounded,  also  became  a  gen- 
eral ofhcer.  Colonel  Samuel  M.  Whitesides,  its  commander 
led  the  Tenth  Cavalry  from  San  Antonio  to  victory.  He  died 
soon  after  his  last  return  from  a  disease  contracted  in  Cuba. 
Brigadier  General  Chambers  McKibbin  who  commanded  the 
Texas  department  was  also  a  prominent  figure  in  both  Cuban 
and   Philippine   campaigns. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


MEN    AND    WOAIEN    OF     MERIT     WHOSE     PORTRAITS     SHOULD    HANG 

HIGH    IN    THE     WORLD "s     HALL     OF     FAME     AND     ON    THE 

WALLS    OF     THE    ALAMO's     GROUP. 

Many  men  and  women,  too,  of  merit  and  note  have  dwelt 
or  sojotirned  in  San  Antonio.  The  men  were  both  those  who 
write  and  those  who  fight  and  do  other  noble  and  lofty  deeds. 

Five  presidents  of  this  nation  and  two  of  the  one  that 
preceeded  this  present  state,  have  sojourned  in  San  Antonio. 
The  two  latter  were  Sam  Houston  and  Mirabeau  Lamar,  execu- 
tive heads  of  the  Texan  Nation.  The  other  five  were  Benja- 
min Harrison,  William  McKinley,  Theodore  Roosevelt,  and 
William  PI.  Taft.  A  sixth  president  of  the  United  States, 
like  Roosevelt,  served  there  in  the  army  before  becoming  presi- 
dent and  revisited  there  afterward.  He  was  Ulysses  S.  Grant, 
who  was  there  when  a  second  lieutenant  on  his  way  to  the 
Mexican  War.  He  returned  when  he  had  finished  his  globe 
circling  tour  and  landed  in  Galveston  in  1878.  At  that  time 
he  was  accompanied  by  the  celebrated  little  cavalryman  known 
as  "Fighting  Phil"  Sheriden.  The  latter  had  served  on  the 
frontier  and  had  made  an  uncomiplimentary  remark  regarding 
Texas  and  disparaging  the  state,  but  I  heard  him  recall  it 
at  a  banquet  to  Grant  and  him  at  Galveston. 

Besides  Grant  and  Sheridan  many  who  wore  and  justly 
won  the  star  earned  deserved  promotion  in  Texas.  Zachariah 
Taylor,  marched  in  and  fought  for  Texas,  but  was  never  at  San 
Antonio. 


Co:\iBATs  AND  CoxouESTs  OF  Immortal  Heroes      155 

Chief  to  be  mentioned  among  Texas  fighters  is  John  L. 
Bullis.  He  commenced  his  carreer  there  as  a  second  Heutenant 
in  command  of  Seminole  scouts,  at  whose  head  he  rode  hard, 
long  and  far,  chasing  brutal  savages  and  barbarous  outlaws 
off  of  the  face  of  the  earth.  Both  the  people  of  Texas  and  those 
of  its  frontier  gave  him  swords  of  honor,  the  first  with  silver 
scabbard  and  hilt,  the  second  with  golden  sheath  and  jeweled 
grip.  He  earned  every  step  of  his  promotion,  from  a  first  lieu- 
tenant's single  bar  to  a  brigadier's  bright  star.  His  exploits 
would  fill  a  volume  of  thrilling  adventure.  None  of  them 
would  need  embellishment.  All  would  be  facts  stranger  than 
fiction  and  romiance  that  is  real.  Now  he  is  enjoying  at  San 
Antonio,  in  an  elegant  home,  a  well  earned  rest  after  long 
years  in  strenuous  campaigns  in  Texas,  Cuba  and  the 
Philippines. 

Stationed  in  San  Antonio,  which  will  probably  be  his  last 
post  before  his  promotion  to  a  general  officership  and  retire- 
ment from  active  service,  is  the  one  who  was  the  youngest 
soldier  in  the  Civil  War,  known  far  and  wide  as  the  "Little 
Drummer  Boy."  Frequently  his  comrades  carried  him  on 
their  shoulders  or  in  their  arms  and  no  matter  how  tired  the 
little  fellow  on  the  Federal  side  was  he  always  managed  to  keep 
at  the  front.  He  is  now  Colonel  John  L.  Clem.  He  will 
retire   as    Brigadier  General  John  L.  Clem. 

The  late  lam^ented  General  David  S.  Stanley  fought  Indians, 
served  long  and  well  on  the  Texas  frontier  and  until  his  pro- 
motion from  Colonel  in  command  at  Fort  Clark  to  Brigadier  and 
department  commander  at  San  Antonio,  retiring  from  active 
service  to  take  charge  of  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Washington. 
There  he  died  after  serving  his  country  through  wars  during 
which  he  was  several  times  seriously  wounded. 

W.  R.  Shafter,  called,  "Old  Bull,"  was  another  cavalry- 
man who  fought  on  the  frontier  with  good  effect.  He  attained 
a  star  and  concluded  his  active  military  career  shortly  after 
the  Spanish  American  Cuban  campaign. 

B.  H.  Grierson,  too.  was  an  effective  frontier  lighter  whose 
exploits  compared  favorably  with  his  contemporaries  and  he 
likewise  became  a  general  officer  deservedly. 

General  Zenas  R.  Bliss,  who  was  department  commander 
here  after  General  Stanley,  was  another  of  the  fine  fighters, 
who  w^as  always  hot  on  the  trail  of  marauding  Indians  when- 
ever they  made  a  raid  anywhere  within  striking  distance  of 
his   military   frontier   force.     Bliss   was   a   splendid   shot   and 


156      Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Ialmortal  Heroes 


BRIGADIER    GENERAL    JOHN    L.    BULLIS,    U.    S.    ARMV.        FAMOUS    INDIAN    FIGHTER. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  I:\imortal  Heroes       157 

impressed  on  his  soldiers  the  necessity  of  marksmanship  as 
a  means  of  self  preservation.  He  made  as  good  a  department, 
as   he   did   a    company   or   regimental   commander. 

Ronald  Mackenzie,  that  fiery  Scot,  who  preferred  a  hot 
fight  to  a  warm  meal,  followed,  killed  and  captured  Indians 
by  the  hundred  and  deserved  the  house  presented  to  him  by 
the  people  of  San  Antonio,  when  he  became  brigadier  and 
department  commander. 

Henry  W.  Lawton,  started  his  career,  in  Texas  as  a  lieu- 
tenant and  when  a  captain,  demonstrated  the  superiority 
of  the  American  soldier  over  the  crafty  savage  on  the  latter 's 
own  battle  and  camping  grounds  by  worrying  and  tiring  out 
old  Geronim^o,  his  younger  chief  Neche,  or  Natchez,  and  cap- 
turing their  Apache  band  in  Mexico  aided  by  Lieutenant  Gate- 
wood  and  the  Scout  Edwardy.  He  delivered  them  to  General 
Nelson  Miles,  who  received  their  surrender  after  which  they 
were  taken  by  Lawton  to  San  Antonio,  put  in  the  Quarter- 
master's quadrangle  and  from  thence  taken  to  Tortugas,  Florida. 
Lawton,  after  having  justly  been  awarded  a  star,  was  slain 
by  a  Philippine  bullet  soon  after  saying  the  bullet  was  not 
moulded    that    would    kill    him. 

Miles,  who  was  the  last  Lieutenant  General  of  the  United 
States  army  service  also  served  in  Texas  as  did  Henry  C.  Corbin, 
who  became  a  major  general.  Adna  R.  Chaft'ee  went  from  San 
Antonio  into  the  Spanish  American  with  a  major's  clover 
leaf  on  his  shoulder  and  after  leading  the  American  force,  the 
first  to  scale  the  Chinese  wall  at  the  Capture  of  Pekin  by  the 
combined  armies,  wore  deservedly  the  two  stars  of  a  major 
general.  John  Reynolds,  who  commanded  the  Texas  depart- 
ment during  reconstruction.  General  Merritt,  J.  M.  Schofield, 
a  major  general,  C.  M.  Terrell,  Frank  Wheaton,  Brigadiers 
Samuel  Bird  Young,  a  major  general,  Thomas  A.  Graham, 
Christopher  C.  Augur  and  J.  C.  Clous,  all  served  in  Texas, 
some  commanding  that  department  and  all  attained  a  general 
officer's  rank. 

The  Ord  family  was  one  of  the  fighting  people  who  ac- 
quired fame  in  Texas.  The  most  famous  of  these  was  E,  O.  C. 
Ord.  He  was  the  brigadier  in  command  when  the  headquarters 
were  moved  first  from  the  French  to  the  Maverick  building 
and  thence  to  their  pressent  location  on  Government  Hill,  He 
is  entitled  to  the  credit  of  impressing  the  importance  of  marks- 
manship by  the  American  soldier  upon  the  war  department  at 
Washington,  up  to  which  time  it  had  been  given  a  secondary" 


158      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 


BRIGADIER    GENERAL    ALBERT    L    MVEk. 


Combats  and  Coxouests  of  Immortal  Heroes      159 

consideration.  Ord  urged  and  obtained  the  establishment  of 
rifle  ranges  and  rifle  competition.  From  that  time  the  shooting 
by  United  States  soldiers  began  to  improve  and  steadily  did 
so  until  today,  they,  like  the  Yankee  sailors  of  the  navy,  are 
the  best  shots  in  the  world.  His  brother,  Major  Ord,  who  owned 
two  splendid  thoroughbred  Arabian  horses,  was  killed  in  1876 
when  they  ran  away.  Father  Johnston,  who  was  with  him 
in  his  carriage  was  then  thrown  out  and  badly  hurt.  I  first 
drew  Jimanaw  Ord  from  under  the  hoofs- of  one  of  the  horses 
and  carried  Father  Johnston  into  a  residence  near  by.  Jimanaw 
Ord  was  not  hurt,  but  stunned.  Father  Johnston  recovered 
after  an  extended  ilhiess.  One  of  General  Ord's  nieces, 
Julia,  married  Jack  Ryan,  the  first  U.  S.  Signal  Corps  man  to 
string  a  military  wire  in  Cuba  and  who  kept  all  of  the  various 
arms  of  the  service  during  the  battles  of  Las  Guasimas,  El 
Caney  and  San  Juan  Hill  in  direct  and  constant  communi- 
cation in  the  Cuban  campaign.  Ryan,  with  a  small  party, 
constructed  three  miles  of  military  telegraph  line  in  a  single 
day  and  during  it,  was  almost  constantly  under  the  enemy's 
fire.  Garesche  Ord,  the  San  Juan  Hill  hero  mentioned  else- 
where, was  of  this  Ord  family.  Bertie,  a  daughter  of  Gen- 
eral Ord,  married  General  Trevino,  of  the  Mexican  army,  and 
James  Ord,  a  son,  is  one  of  its  colonels. 

J.  G.  C.  Lee  and  Jesse  M.  Lee  served  in  Texas,  the  latter 
commanding  that  department  immediately  preceeding  the 
coming  thither  of  Frederick  Dent  Grant,  son  of  the  silent  and 
great  Ulysses.  Fred  Grant  is  now  a  major  general. 
Ulysses  S.  Grant,  IIL,  while  a  lieutenant  of  Engineers,  and 
of  the  third  Grant  generation  was  very  recently  stationed 
in  Texas,  where  most  of  the  famous  Grants  and  Lees  have 
served  and  fought. 

Colonel  Robert  R.  Stevens  is  another  officer  of  the  United 
States  army  who  served  in  San  Antonio  and  Texas  long, 
well  and  faithfully.  He  it  was  who  had  charge  of  the  con- 
struction work  at  Leon  Springs  maneuver  grounds,  a  duty 
he  executed  admirably  as  he  did  all  others.  He  will  make 
his  home  at  San  Antonio  on  retirment.  He  will  not  get, 
although  he  should  receive,  a  brigadier's  rank. 

Colonels  L.  M.  Maus  and  J.  B.  Girard,  of  the  medical  depart- 
ment are  both  officers  who  have  faced  the  perils  of  plagues  as  well 
as  shot  and  shell  on  foreign  fields  in  Cuban  and  Philippine 
campaigns    and    served    efficiently   in    averting   and   lessening 


160      Co:mbats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

disease    in  the  Texan  territory.     They  both  should  be  given, 
but  may  not  get  stars  at  or  prior  to  retirement. 

The  present  commander  at  San  Antonio,  Albert  Myer, 
is  a  brigadier  who  has  had  an  eventful  career.  He  was  a  success- 
ful Indian  fighter  and  captured  the  infamous  savages  Santanta 
and  Big  Tree  not  far  from  the  Concho  and  delivered  theiTi 
over  to  merited  punishment.  General  Myer  was  also  present 
together  with  General  U.  S.  Grant,  General  Tecumseh  Sherman, 
General  Dodge  and  other  distuinguished  characters  at  the 
completion  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railway.  Since  his  advent 
to  Texas  and  his  command  of  this  department  he  has  success- 
fully directed  its  affairs.  During  his  regime  many  of  the 
improvements  have     been    made    and    numerous     structures 


MISS    ADINA   DE    ZAVALA. 


erected  at  the  new  post.  He  has  had  charge  of  and  personally 
conducted  the  maneuvers  at  the  new  grounds  at  Leon  Springs, 
that  have  been  instructive  alike  to  the  regular  and  volunteer 
soldiers. 

But  while  brave  soldiers  have  battled  around  and  about 
San  Antonio,  poets,  scholars,  statesmen  and  jurists  have  dwelt, 
sung,  studied  and  compiled,  literary,  legal  and  statecraft  gems 
and  scattered  them  about  the  globe. 

Of  the  poets  first  to  be  named  is  Sydney  Lanier,  who; 
swanlike  sang  his  dying  song  there.  Mollie  E.  Moore  Davis,  who 
was  born  on  the  bank  of  the  San  Marcos  river,  dwelt  and  wrote 
some  of  her  sweetest  songs  and  gave  forth  her  best  lyrics  from 
San  Antonio.     vShe  died  in  my  old  home.   New  Orleans,   not 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      161 

long  since.  Augusta  Evans  lived  and  wrote  her  first  novel 
to  bring  her  fame  when  in  San  Antonio.  This  was  "Inez,  or  the 
Child  of  the  Alamo."  Her  sister,  Mrs.  Leo  Tarleton,  herself 
a  writer  and  a  painter,  lived  there  until  recently. 

Charles  R.  Quarles,  the  poet,  died  in  San  Antonio  but 
a  short  time  since.  Mrs.  John  R.  Shook  is  writing  a  book 
there  now.  Mrs.  William  Ferguson,  who  has  written  a 
clever  story  with  the  Alamo  as  its  scene  spent  many 
years  there.  Mrs.  Robert  Symington,  a  poetess,  under  the 
pseudonym  of  Crepe  Myrtle,  wrote  many  fine  specimens  of 
verse  there. 

E.  Knowles,  a  great  sculptor,  shortly  before  his  death  modeled 
there  in  clay  and  made  plaster  casts. 

Bret  Harte  and  Bill  Nye,  both  humorists,  stopped  there 
long  enough  to  absorb  inspirations.  Juaquin  Miller,  "Poet 
of  the  Sierras,"  tarried  there.  Opie  Reed  wrote  persiflage 
profitably   there. 

Jack  and  Alexander  Hamilton,  statesmen,  sojourned  at 
San  Antonio  for  some  time.  Colonel  Tom  Pierce,  Colonel 
Henry  B.  Andrew^s,  Major  James  Converse,  C.  C.  Gibbs  and 
Capt.  Polk,  all  connected  with  the  building  of  the  Southern 
Pacific,  the  first  railway  to  reach  San  Antonio,  made  it  their 
home  or  headquarters.  The  two  last  named  live  there  yet. 
Uriah  Lott,  another  railwayman,  together  with  Peter  Nelson 
and  Tom  Johnson  built  the  Aransas  Pass  Railway. 

Its  first  president  was  Augustus  Belknap,  likewise  the 
progenitor  of  San  Antonio's   street  railway  service. 

B.  F.  Yoakum,  the  great  railway  magnate,  practically 
commenced  his  career  there  when  co-receiver  with  J.  S.  Mc- 
Namara,  of  the  Aransas  Pass  railway.  Frank  Yoakum  married 
Bettie  Porter,  the  widowed  and  beautiful  daughter  of  W.  A. 
Bennett,  the  San  Antonio  banker,  built  a  splendid  home  there 
but  found  the  environment  too  circumscribed  to  suit  the  broad 
scope  of  his  lofty  aims,  so  he  went  first  to  St.  Louis  and  thence 
to  New  York.  There  he  soon  forged  to  the  front  and  is  now 
the  chief  force  directing  the  great  Frisco  Railway  system.  He 
is  considered  second  in  railway  mergers  of  magnitude  only 
to  the  late  E.  H.  Harriman  who  died  recently. 

Harrimian,  frequently  visited  and  shortly  before  his  death 
spent  a  portion  of  his  time  at  San  Antonio.  Jay  Gould 
and  H.  M.  Hoxie,  of  the  International  and  other  great  railway 
systems  were  frequent   visitors  there. 


162      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

Col.  Sam  Fordyce,  prominently  connected  with  the  St. 
Louis,  Brownsville  &  Mexico,  a  railway  built  through  the  genius 
of  Yoakum  and  the  skill  of  Lott,  often  comes  and  enjoys  a 
trip  to  San  Antonio.  He  is  one  of  the  high  officials  of  not 
only  that  railway,  but  of  the  Pierce-Fordyce  Oil  company, 
which  succeeded  the  Waters  Pierce  Company  in  Texas. 


JNE     OF      EDWARD     GRENET  S      I'KIZE      ]'ARISIAX      I'AIX  TINGS. 


A  prominent  jDcrsonage  who  paid  periodical  pilgrimages 
to  San  Antonio  was  Prince  Solms  Braunfels,  head  of  the  colony 
that  founded  the  lovely  city  of  New  Braunfels,  San  Antonio's 
near  neighbor  and  friendly  business  competitor,  where  Harry 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      163 

Landa  and  Joseph  Faust,  heads  of  gigantic  commercial  and 
financial  institutions,  operate. 

Another  poetess,  whose  verse  has  been  lofty  and  patriotic 
is  Nettie  Power  Houston  Bringhurst,  daughter  of  General 
Sam  Houston  and  wife  of  the  savant  Dr.  W.  H.  Bringhurst. 
They  dwell  in  San  Antonio. 

Other  prominent  literati  are  Miss  Marian  B.  Fen- 
wyke,  (Aunt  Ruth),  Mrs  Johnnie  Jones,  her  partner  former- 
ly in  conducting  the  Passing  Show,  Miss  Eudocia  Bell,  while 
formerly  Miss  Sarah  Hartman,  with  Mrs.  Foute,  now  de- 
ceased, conducted  a  magazine,  The  Gulf,  that  was  a  publica- 
tion of  a  high  order  of  merit. 

R.  R.  Claridge,  a  writer  of  satire  as  well  as  practical  mat- 
ter formerly  lived  there  and  founded  the  Stockman,  now  ably 
conducted  by  Vories  P.  Brown,  the  latter  being  the  present 
head  of  the  International  Fair  Association. 

Mrs.  Fannie  Wheeler  is  a  forceful  writer  who  enjoys  the 
distinction  of  being  the  only  woman  in  Texas  running  a  daily 
newspaper  owned  by  her.  After  the  death  of  her  husband, 
management  devolved  on  her  and  she  has  been  equal  to  the 
occasion.  Her  paper,  the  Brownsville  Herald,  is  a  better 
one  than  the  place  deserves  and  the  local  patronage  it  receives 
is  much  less  in  proportion  than  the  benefit  the  paper  is  to  the 
town  in  which  it  is  published.  Jesse  Wheeler,  her  husband, 
was  a  martyr  to  duty  and  died  in  harness,  working  hard  for  the 
locality  that  failed  to  appreciate  his  heroic  efforts  on  its  be- 
half. 

Mrs.  Isabel  Bonsai  Grice  Russell  is  a  poetess  whose 
verse  has  considerable  merit.  She  is  also  a  very  beauti- 
ful woman,  and  wealthy,  once  owning  more  than  a  majority 
of  the  capital  stock  of  the  San  Antonio  Express  Publishing 
Company,  a  considerable  block  in  the  Traction,  Gas  and 
Electric  corporation,    besides    considerable    realty. 

A  visitor  to  San  Antonio  frequently  and  one  of  its  bene- 
factors, the  donor  of  its  handsome  library  building,  Andrew 
Carnegie,  is  one  of  the  world's  prominent  personages  and  a 
philanthropist  of  fame  throughout  the  globe. 

The  philanthropist  who  has  been  most  lil^eral  in  benefac- 
tions to  Texas  and  San  Antonio,  and  who  lives  in  that  city 
is  George  W^  Brackenridge.  who  has  made  munificent  donations 
to  the  San  Antonio  public  schools  both  white  and  colored, 
and  who  built  one  of  the  handsomest  edifices  of  the  State  Uni- 


164      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

versity  group  at  Austin  and  donated  it  to  the  State.  He 
also  presented  the  Salvation  Army  with  a  tract  of  land  near 
the  head  of  the  river  on  which  to  build  a  rescue  home  and  pro- 
fusely contributed  funds  for  its  erection.  He  has  done  other 
numerous  acts  of  charity  to  individuals  that  have  never  been 
mentioned.  When  I  first  came  to  San  Antonio,  a  vStripHng 
and  ill,  he  gave  me  shelter  and  employment  and  I  shall  always 
be  equally  grateful  to  him,  his  mother  and  sister,  Miss  Eleanor 
Brackenridge.  The  latter  is  also  very  prominent  in  women's 
work  for  the  alleviation  and  advancement  of  her  sex  and  has 


BRONZE  MEDALLION  OF  A.  W .  TERRELL  BY  CHARLES  SIM.MANG. 


made  many  magnificent  donations  and  contributions  to  such 
charities. 

Mrs.  Eli  Herzberg  is  another  San  Antonian  who  is  not 
only  well  known  in  literary  circles,  but  in  woman's  relief  and 
charity  work  which  she  does  in  a  very  quiet  but  effective 
manner. 

One  of  San  Antonio's  very  brilliant  orators  and  success- 
ful   charity   workers   is    Rabbi  Samuel   Marks. 

Among  the  most  prominent  and  sucessful  religious  and 
charitable  workers  of  San  Antonio  were  Bishops  Odin,  Dupuis, 
Pellicer    and    Neraz    and    Mother    St.  Pierre,  of  the  Incarnate 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      165 

Word.  Bishop  Forest  is  also  well  known  for  his  charitable 
ministrations  as  was  the  late  Father  Johnston. 

Mother  Alphonse,  the  present  Superior  of  the  Incarnate 
Word  order  is  also  a  well  known  w^orker  in  alleviating  the 
sufferings  of  mankind  as  well  as  in  promoting  education. 

Bishop  Johnston,  head  of  the  Episcopal  church  and  Bishop 
Mouzon  of  the  Methodists  in  this  diocese  have  performed  excel- 
lent work  in  humanity's  cause  as  well  as  in  the  advancement 
of  religion. 

Smith  S.  Thomas  is  another  philanthropist,  who  in  such  a 
quiet  way  that  his  right  hand  has  hardly  known  what  has  been 
done  by  his  left,  has  kept  the  two  busy  alleviating  the  suffer- 
ings of  his  fellow  man  and  relieving  the  distress  of  the  poor 
and  afflicted.  He  is  one  of  the  few  unselfish  and  noble  men 
who  early  in  life  w^as  marked  as  a  victim  of  a  malady  that  he 
has  valiantly  fought  alone.  He  early  loved  but  would  not 
wed  the  woman  dearest  to  his  heart  because  he  was  too  just 
to  afflict  her  with  the  care  of  an  invalid,  although  she  was 
willing  to  undertake  the  task.  Neither  of  them  has  wed  but 
both  have  gone  through  the  greater  part  of  life's  journey  and 
will  end  it  unmarried.  Mr.  Thomas  is  a  hero  in  other  ways. 
He  w^as  one  of  the  few  who  crossed  the  plains  and  mountains 
before  the  Union  Pacific  railway  was  built,  traveling  by  wagon 
train.  He  successfully  resisted  the  attacks  of  Indians  and 
rescued  others  beset  by  them  and  likewise  the  assault  of  an 
outlaw  band,  utterly  routing  them  with  a  much  inferior  force. 
When  its  leader  told  Thomas  to  surrender  the  latter  coolly 
informed  the  desperado  he  had  less  than  a  minute  to  live  if 
he  and  his  band  did  not  leave  within  that  time  and  instead 
of  drawing  a  weapon  pulled  out  his  watch  and  began  to  count 
seconds  to  the  desperate  villains  who  before  the  expiration 
of  the  time  departed  with  great  celerity.  He  has  giv^en  much 
to  Masonry  and  the  churches  and  was  the  first  to  give  me  a 
helping  hand  w^hen  I  undertook  to  publish  this  book.  Know- 
ing that  life  is  as  uncertain  as  death  is  sure,  he  has  even  made 
preparation  for  his  demise.  His  handsome  tomb  of  poHshed 
granite  in  the  cemetery  of  Anchor  Lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 
has  been  there  completed  for  some  time.  The  friends  who 
wdll  act  as  his  pallbearers,  if  they  survive  him.  have  been 
selected.  Even  his  obituary  has  been  wTitten  in  adv^mce  of 
his  final  summons.  He  only  awaits  its  call,  having  rounded 
out  almost  to  its  full  period,  a  splendidly  spent  life.  His  is 
one  of  the  names  on   the   list    of   immortal    heroes. 


166      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

Sons  and  daughters  of  San  Antonio  have  inscribed  their 
names  in  the  haUs  of  fame  in  many  ways.  Some  have  Hterally 
painted  their's  there.  They  appear  on  the  canvasses  which 
hang  in  some  of  the  art  salons,  and  have  achieved  fame  for 
them.  Others  who  have  not  yet  done  so  are  destined  soon 
to  acquire  such  fam.e.  The  art  galleries  of  Europe,  notably 
the  Louvre,  as  well  as  those  of  America  contain  the  art  creations 
from  San  Antonio,  earning  for  the  creators  celebrity,  while 
many  of  these  artists  are  better  known  abroad  than  at  home. 
While  dwehing  in  San  Antonio  they  have  toiled  in  obscurity 


MAGNIFICENT     MEDALLION    BY    STEU  BENR  ACCH  . 


and  somiC  in  poverty,  none  acquiring  here  their  reputation 
or  remuneration,  which  only  camic  to  them  when  they  went 
abroad.  But  such  is  the  history  of  genius  the  world 
over.  With  the  painter  as  with  the  prophet.  "  He  is  not 
without  honor  save  in  his  own  land. "  Although  San  Antonio 
and  her  environment  abound  with  themes  whether  from  Na- 
ture's open  book,  historic,  heroic  or  picturesque,  for  the  pencil 
and  brush  of  the  artist  always,  when  such  themes  have  been 
portrayed  on  canvass  or  otherwise  depicted  with  added  charm 
and  touch    of   the    true    artist,  he  has  had  to  go  away  with 


Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes       167 

them  to  place  them  on  some  shrine  of  art,  far  distant  from 
his  home  to  render  them  acceptable.  To  young  manhood 
grew  young  Eduard  Grenet,  here  known  only  to  an  admiring 
few.  Unencouraged  he  struggled  and  painted,  choosing  as 
his  subjects  the  forms,  faces  and  garbs  of  the  characters  about 
him.  To  him  these  were  a  mine  of  ideal  art-wealth. 
To  others  who  saw  the  originals  daily  they  were  too  com- 
mionplace  to  have  any  charm.  So  when  Grenet  grouped 
the  tones  of  the  local  fandango,  portraying  the  typical 
Mexican  beauty  making  the  central  figure  of  a  local 
female  an  attendant  at  one  of  the  fondas,  no  one  noticed  it. 
He  called  it  "El  Jarabe."  He  took  the  picture  with  him  to 
Paris,  where  he  went  to  study  art  and  all  Paris  raved  over  it. 
Mexican  beauty  w^as  so  common  in  San  Antonio  as  to  only 
attract  admiration  from  visitors.  Grenet  impressed  it  so 
charmingly  on  canvas  that  when  he  exhibited  his  painting, 
Parisians  hungered  for  m.ore.  Soon  several  of  his  pictures 
were  accorded  space  in  the  salons  of  Paris.  It  was  not  very 
long  after  they  were  given  honor  spots  in  the  art  gallaries  of 
the  principle  cities  of  Europe.  Grenet  did  not  have  to  wait 
long  to  be  known  not  only  in  Paris,  but  in  Naples,  Venice  and 
even  Rome.  He  was  kept  busier  than  he  wished  and  too  busy 
to  have  the  leisure  he  desired  to  study  the  works  of  other 
artists.  Now  his  name  is  known  in  every  capitol  of  Europe. 
Possibly  less  than  a  hundred  remember  him  in  his  old  home 
of  San  Antonio. 

So  it  was  with  Seymour  Thomas,  who  by  leaving  San 
Antonio  leaped  into  fame.  With  no  instruction  he  began  to 
draw  and  paint  the  scenes  about  him.  Rambling  along  the 
banks  of  the  San  Antonio  river  and  among  the  historic  old 
Missions,  where  he  stopped  long  enough  to  study  and  sketch 
the  scenes  and  subjects  he  saw  about  him.  They  were  scenes 
of  realism  and  possessed  a  novel  charm.  His  pictures  bear 
close  scrutinization  and  inspection.  They  are  neither  rough 
nor  rugged.  All  have  a  classic  finish  about  them.  Of  course, 
critics  condemned  them  because  this  was  an  innovation  of 
his  own  in  art.  There  was  nothing  else  about  his  pictures 
to  condemn,  but  what  they  condemned  and  called  down  was 
a  new  charm. 

Thomas  painted  the  colors  as  well  as  the  details  just  as 
he  saw  them  and  just  as  nature  herself  had  painted  them. 
He  never  attempted  to  tone  down  the  brilliant  high-lights  in 


168         COxMBATS    AND    CONQUESTS    OF    IMMORTAL    HeROES 

order  to  brighten  Nature's  shades.  His  hghts  were  never  too 
bright  nor  his  shadows  too  somber.  None  sugested  caUing 
out  the  fire  department,  nor  created  an  impulse  toward  suicide 
as  do  pictures  of  some  impressionists.  These  circumstances 
were  not  objects  to  his  advancement  and  success  at  home 
but  his  was  a  genius,  that  could  not  be  supressed.  He 
only  had  to  go  as  far  as  New  Orleans  and  hang  up  a  canvas 
of  the  San  Jose  mission  showing  the  beautiful  window  on  its 
south  side  to  wii;  full  appreciation  and  encouragement.  It  came 
immediately  from  people  who  know  the  truth  of  art  when  they 


ADOLPH    TOEpPERWEIN,    ARTIST    AND    MARKSMAN. 


see  it.  It  did  not  take  Thomas  long  to  make  his  way  to  Europe. 
Like  Grenet,  he  too,  has  had  too  much  wisdom  to  return  to 
Texas  to  paint.  An  occasional  visit  to  his  parents  and 
sketching  of  a  few  subjects  here  sufficed.  Portraiture,  a 
profession  in  which  he  excels,  to  him  proved  profitable. 
Probably  his  best  portrait  is  the  equestrian  one  of  Sam 
Houston,  which  created  great  interest  at  the  Pan  American 
Exposition  at  Buffalo,  as  did  another,  whose  title  is  "The 
Bath."  Both  Grenet  and  Thomas  have  contributed  sketches 
for  illustration  in  this   book. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      169 

Edgar  vS.  Hamilton,  recently  deceased,  is  another  San 
Antonian  whose  art  creations  are  better  known  in  Xew  York 
and  Europe  than  his  own  home  where  he  died  but  a  few  years 
asfo.  San  Antonio's  best  known  and  best  artist  in  his  own 
immediate  environments  as  well  as  abroad  is  R.  J.  Onderdonk, 
copies  of  whose  "At  the  Alamo's  Brave  Battle"  and  "Santa 
Anna  Before  Houston  at  San  Jacinto"  adorn  and  illustrate 
this  work. 

H.  A.  McArdle,  who  died  but  a  short  time  since,  was  another 
of  San  Antonio's  great  historic  painters.  His  canvas  depicting 
the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  and  the  Alamo  now  hang  on  the 
walls  of  the  Texas  Senate  Chamber  and  are  so  meritorious 
they  should  be  purchased  for  the  people  of  the  State  by  her 
Legislature. 

Tom  Brown,  another  San  Antonian,  self-taught,  has  painted 
many  splendid  pictures.  His  best  themes  are  representations 
of  scenes  of  the  gray  morning  peculiar  to  this  city.  To  this 
book  he  has  contributed  a  sketch  of  vSoledad  street  showing 
at  its  right  the  historic  old  Veram.endi  palace. 

Leo  Cotton  is  another  lad  who  has  genius,  which  has  been 
aided  by  culture.  His  penchant  has  been  portraiture  and 
he  excels  in  caricature.  For  several  years  he  was  in  charge 
of  the  illustrations  of  the  San  Antonio  Daily  Express,  but  to 
better  his  fortunes  he  has  recently  gone  North.  One  of  his 
contributions  is  to  be  found  in  this  book.  An  ideal  sketch 
depicting  the  scene  of  the  burning  of  the  bodies  of  those  who 
perished  in  defense  of  the  Alamo. 

A.  Toepperwein,  another  former  illustrator  of  the  Express, 
is  a  natural  born  artist.  He  can  not  only  draw  with  the  pen 
and  pencil  but  literally  shoots  likenesses  with  his  rifle,  and 
was  the  first  to  perform  such  a  feat.  He  is  an  all-around 
genius,  painting  in  oil  or  water  colors,  burning  on  wood  or 
leather. 

Mrs.  B.  G.  Duval  who  lived  for  a  long  time  in  San  Antonio, 
possessed  considerable  artistic  ability  which  has  attracted 
admiration.  vShe  has  drawn  and  painted  a  great  many  pictures 
of  great  merit,  as  also  has  Mrs.  C.  Kroi'iin£er  who  lately  lived 
here,  but  since  has  gone  to  Europe  where  she  has  acquired 
much  greater  fame  than  in  her  former  home. 

Pauline  Paschal,  now  Mrs.  Chas.  H.  Benson,  and  a  daughter 
of  the  late  Col.  Jas.  P.  Newcomb,  Florence,  both  possess  con- 
siderable talent  and  are  clever  at  pen  and  ink  sketches  and 
other  art  work.     Mrs.  W.  H.  Weiss,  daughter  of  the  late  Col. 


170      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

Augustus  Bellnap,  likewise  a  San  Antonio  girl  but  now  living 
in  Europe  has  a  penchant  for  art  running  in  the  channels  of 
keramics.  A  lady  who  was  formerly  Flo  Eager,  now  Mrs. 
Roberts,  also  excels  in  china  decorative  work.  For  some 
years  she  was  custodian  of  the  Alamo  Church  in  which  posi- 
tion she  has  been  succeeded  by  her  mother,  its  present 
custodian.  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Eager.  Mrs.  Eloise  Pope  McGill, 
formerly  residing  in  San  Antonio  developed  considerable 
ability  in  art,  her  talent  being  principally  in  the  line  of  flow- 
ers. She  also  seemiS  to  show  considerable  talent  for  keramics. 
Miss  Emma  Giddings,  daughter  of  the  late  Col.  Geo  H.  Gid- 
dings.  is  another  San  Antonian  excelHng  in  oil  and  water  coloring. 


MFS.    A.    TOEPPEKWEIN,    CHAMPION    WOMAN    RIFLE    AND   SHOT  GUN    SHOT  OF   THE    WORLD. 

Chas.  Simmang  is  a  San  Antonian  who  evinces  great  talent 
in  the  cutting  of  cameos  as  well  as  the  making  of  medallions. 

A.  T.  Mills  is  an  artist  who  has  done  good  work  in  news- 
paper illustration  and  has  made  most  of  the  cuts  forming 
pictures  published  in  this  book.  Art  here  has  not  been  con- 
fined entirely  to  the  Caucausian.  J.  Todd  Walton,  a  colored 
man,  has  manifested  much  talent  in  several  lines  of  art.  He 
not  only  paints  in  oil  and  water  colors  but  models  in  clay 
from   life,   with  considerable  merit. 

Bob  Minor  is  another  young  San  Antonian  who  is  a  success- 
ful illustrator  of  newspapers  and  magazines,  who  had  to  leave 
home  to  win  fame  and  fortune.  His  first  work  was  on  the 
"Lanijtern"   and  later  on  the  Gazette.     He  left  his  home  to 


Combats  and  Coxouests  of  Immortal  Heroes      171 

accept  a  much  more  lucrative  place  on  a  large  daily  at  St. 
Louis  and  since  has  gone  to  New  York  to  fill  a  similar  one  on  a 
great  daily  news  paper  of  Gotham.  He  inherits  his  talent 
from   his  mother,  also  an  artist,  who  paints  well. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


WRITERS    WHO    WERE    HEROES,    MEX    AXD    WOMEX     WHO     HELPED 
TO  AL\KE  TEXAS    THE    GREAT    XATION    SHE    WAS    AXD    THE 

STATE    SHE    IS. 

Not  all  of  the  heroes  deserving  immortality  are  soldiers. 
Many  battle  just  as  bravely  with  the  pen  as  with  the  sword 
Oftener  more  effectively.  Under  the  most  untoward  circum- 
stances probably  that  ever  a  publication  was  conducted 
and  issued,  although  deprived  of  the  use  of  type  or  printer's  ink, 
was  probably  the  most  patriotic,  although  not  the  first  in  Texas. 
It  was  that  published  by  the  Texan  Santa  Fe  prisoners  in  the 
palace,  or  Castle  of  Santiago,  in  the  City  of  Mexico.  Its 
title  was  appropriate.  It  was  named  "True  Blue"  and  written 
on  blue  paper  with  a  pen  by  its  editor  who  was  known  as  Simon 
Pure.  G.  W.  Grover  was  his  real  name.  He  had  to  write 
in  full  each  individual  number  of  each  issue,  this  being  before 
the  day  of  the  mimeograph  or  the  multigraph  and  had  it  not 
been,  neither  of  these  would  have  been  issued  to  or  been  per- 
mitted the  use  of  by  prisoners.  The  first  issue  was  dated 
April  1,  1842.  It  ran  through  but  five  issues,  the  last  being 
dated  on  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  April  21. 

Another  patriotic  publication  was  that  originated  by 
Gail  Borden,  Thomas  H.  Borden  and  Julius  Baker  at  Colorado 
in  1836  shortly  before  the  San  Jacinto  battle.  Santa  Ana's 
soldiers  captured  the  printers  and  imprisoned  them,  threw 
their  type  and  printing  press  into  the  river  and  chased  the 
editors,  who  had  a  narrow  escape,  with  a  few  copies  of  the  issue 
just  printed.  The  |)ress  was  afterward  fished  from  the  bottom 
of  the  stream  and  used  in  Houston  to  print  the  Houston  Tele- 
graph of  which  J.  H.  Crugar  was  business  manager  and  Dr. 
Moore,  editor.  The  original  name  given  it  by  the  Bordens 
and  Baker  was  the  Telegraph  and  Texas  Register  and  the  press 
was   a   Hoe,    (Smith   medium.) 


172      Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Laimortal  Heroes 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      173 

The  first  printing  press  brought  to  Texas  was  that  carried 
to  Galveston  in  1816  long  before  the  founding  of  the  RepubHc, 
Samuel  Bangs  using  it  for  printing  the  records  of  an  ill-starred 
expedition,  but  the  name  of  the  publication,  if  it  had  one,  has 
been  lost  in  oblivion. 

The  first  regular  newspaper  publication  established  in 
Texas  was  founded  by  Horatio  N.  Bigelow  at  Nacogdoches 
in  1828,  the  place  where  they  have  permitted  the  destruction 
of  the  historic  old  fort  and  ever  since  regretted  its  dem- 
olition. Soon  after  the  fort  was  destroyed  the  historic  old 
"Liberty  Tree"  there  was  blown  down  by  a  hurricane  and 
now  the  Nacogdoches  people  are  without  any  historic  relics. 
They  did  not  preserve  Bigelow's  historic  press.  He  called 
his  paper  by  a  name  that  has  even  been  forgotten.  But 
the  following  year  at  San  Felipe  de  Austin,  1829,  Godwin 
Cotten  instituted  the  Cotton  Plant,  while  in  1834  D.  W.  Anthony 
established  at  Brazoria  the  Constitutional  Advocate  and 
Advertiser  and  in  1836  Harris  &  Gray,  at  old  Washington, 
on  the  Brazos,  originated  the  Texas  Emigrant.  But  this  pub- 
lication had  been  preceded  in  1834  by  the  Peoples'  Rights, 
run  by  Oliver  Allen  at  Victoria.  In  1839  James  Burke,  at 
Austin,  started  the  Epitomist  and  Samuel  Whiting  the  Texas 
Gazette.  The  same  year  the  Richmond  Register  entered  the 
arena  under  the  lead  of  David  L.  Wood.  An  unique  and  in- 
teresting old  time  Texas  newspaper  was  the  Jimplecute,  pub- 
lished at  Jefferson,  but  the  Jefferson  Times  preceded  it  in 
1865.  The  Herald  was  the  first  paper  published  at  Dallas 
but  was  later  hyphenated  w^th  the  Times.  It  runs  yet  and 
is  likely  to  much  longer. 

Probably  the  oldest  Texas  newspaper  still  running  is 
located  at  Bastrop.  Its  name  is  the  Advertiser.  Another 
unique  paper  was  the  Houston  Age  founded  by  Dan  McGary, 
himself  a  picturescjue  character.  McGary  and  John  Rankin 
previously  established  the  Banner  at  Brenham  but  disagreed 
and  McGary  retired,  leaving  Rankin  to  wave  the  Banner  un- 
til Rankin  was  called  to  furl  its  folds  and  himself  went  to  his 
last  sleep  not  long  since. 

The  oldest  daily  newspaper  running  continuously  is  the 
Galveston  News.  It  was  originated  in  1842  by  Michael  Cronican, 
a  typical  Irishman  and  Wilbur  Cherry,  the  latter  having  been 
one  of  Sam  Houston's  San  Jacinto  soldiers.  The  second  oldest 
living  Texas  daily  would  be  the  Brownsville  Herald  had  it  kept 
the   title  of  one  of   the    papers    with    which  it    consolidated, 


174      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

but  this  it  dropped  and  took  up  a  new  title,  thus  losing 
its  claim  to  antiquity  and  seniority,  surrendering  it  to  the 
San  Antonio  Daily  Express.  The  Statesman,  at  Austin,  of 
which  Asher  Smoot  is  head,  is  third  in  point  of  age  although 
it  only  originated  in  1S71,  but  the  Express  did  not  become 
a  daily  until  1S75,  although  established  much  earlier  as  a 
weekly. 

Next  to  the  Houston  Telegram  and  Houston  Morning 
Star,  was  the  old  San  Antonio  Herald.  Its  last  editor  happened 
to  have  been  the  last  editor  of  the  Houston  Telegram.     He 


WHERE  SANTA  ANNA  MADE    HIS  HEADQUARTERS  WHEN  HE  ATTACKED  THE    ALAMO. 

OLD  YTURRl    HOUSE  AT  THE  NORTHWEST  CORNER  OF  MAIN 

PLAZA   AND  MAIN   AVENUE 


was  Edmond  P.  Claudon,  who  before  had  been  an  editor  of 
La  Beille,  (The  Bee)  at  New  Orleans.  The  Bee  is  still  alive 
although  the  Star  has  ceased  to  twinkle,  the  Telegram  has  been 
delivered  to  its  last  subscriber  and  the  Herald  has  gone  to 
its  long  home  with  its  last  editor.  A.  H.  Belo  and  the  Dealeys 
after  they  secured  the  Galveston  News  from  Richardson 
established  in  the  early  'SO's  the  Dallas  end,  which  is  now 
the  head  of  the  hyphenated  and  dual  daily.  Among  the  famous 
men  of  the  news  were  Hamilton  wStuart,  and  W.  G.  Sterrett, 
generally  known  as   "Bill." 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lm.mortal  Heroes      175 

At  Austin,  in  1849  Jacob  de  Cordova  started  the  South- 
western which  he  sold  in  1852  to  John  S.  ("Old  Rip")  Ford. 
The  same  year  T.  A.  &  F.  J.  Paddillo,  established  the  Texas 
Republic  which  was  merged  into  the  Messenger  now  running 
as  a  daily  at  Marshall,  while  George  Robinson,  in  185!)  origi- 
nated the  Item,  a  weekly,  still  regularly  issued  at  Huntsville. 

The  oldest  and  only  daily  German  newspaper  in  Texas 
is  the  Freie  Presse  fuer  Texas  established  at  vSan  Antonio  by 
A.  Siemering  and  his  partner  Pollmer,  hi  1869.  It  is  yet 
being  most  profitably  conducted  by  Robert  Hanschke,  for- 
merly of  the  New  Orleans  German  Gazette. 

The  first  newspaper  published  in  San  Antonio  was  owned 
by  Nat  Lewis,  Sr.  and  his  partner  J.  D.  Groesbeck.  It  was  printed 
in  the  old  Lewis  Mill  whose  mill  stones  were  the  first  in  Texas 
and  brought  over  by  the  thirteen  Canary  Island  colonists. 
One  of  these  stones  is  now  in  the  Alamo  chapel  placed  there 
by  myself  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  late  Frank  Grice, 
who  obtained  it  from  the  owner,  Nat  Lewis  Jr.  The  paper, 
a  weekly,  was  called  the  West  Texan,  its  editor  and  progenitor 
having  been  Henry  Lewis,  one  of  the  very  early  brainy  men 
of  Texas.  It  made  its  initial  appearance  in  1848.  Lewis 
was  succeeded  by  a  man  named  Glass  after  the  cholera  scourge 
in  1849  carried  off  one  of  its  editors.  It  lived  just  a  decade 
when  it  was  succeeded  by  the  Ledger  established  by  Jacob 
Walker,  who  had  been  one  of  its  staff  until  dissention  arose. 
Walker  finally  secured  control  of  the  Texan  and  merged  it 
into  the  Ledger.  The  fight  between  the  two  rival  publica- 
tions has  been  aptly  described  as  resembling  the  battle  be- 
tween the  kingsnake  and  the  rattlesnake  wherein  the  rattle- 
snake always  succeeds  in  being  swallowed  by  the  kingsnake. 

One.  of  the  very  conspicuous  features  of  the  newspapers  of 
that  period  was  the  advertisements  relative  to  negro  slaves. 
These  had  reference  to  escaped  ones  for  restoration  of  whom 
rewards  were  offered  and  sales  of  them  announced.  The 
newspaper  cuts  then  very  crude,  were  of  wood  and  usually 
very  small,  generally  less  than  an  inch  square.  The  cuts 
represented  runaway  negroes  and  houses,  boats  and  ships. 
These  as  well  as  advertisements  of  strayed  or  stolen  horses, 
were  the  principal  sources  of  profit  to  the  ]3ublishcrs.  The 
Ledger  was  purchased  by  Vanderlip  &  Hewitt,  who  had  it 
but  a  short  time  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  Michael 
Burke.  He  converted  it  into  a  daily,  the  first  published  in 
San  Antonio  in  1856.     Soon  after  it  was  accjuired  by  William 


176      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lmmortal  Heroes 

Maverick  and  conducted  in  the  historic  Veramendi  building, 
by  John  A.  Logan.  Major  Biggar,  then  U.  S.  quartermaster, 
who  swore  by  the  New  York  Herald  and  who  had  great  in- 
fluence with  the  management,  succeeded  in  having  its  name 
changed  to  the  Herald.  From  the  Veramendi  it  was  moved 
over  to  Dolorosa  Street  at  the  Southwest  extremity  of  Main 
Plaza.  Logan  &  Palmer  purchased  it,  running  it  until  Palmer 
retired.  Henry  C.  Thompson,  recently  deceased  editor  of 
the  Floresville  Chronicle,  succeeded  him  and  for  the  next  fifteen 
years  it  was  the  leading  daily  newspaper  of  Texas.  Logan 
was  succeeded  as  editor  by  Col.  J.  Y.  Dashiell,  former  U.  S. 
paymaster,  and  Thompson  as  business  manager;by  his  brother 


AN    OLD    TIME    SLAVE. 


George  R.  Dashiel,  such  a  shrewd  politician  that  he  could  fore- 
cast within  half  a  dozen  votes,  how  Bexar  County's  elections 
would  go.  Major  Sweet  succeeded  George  Dashiel  on  the  latter's 
election  to  the  position  of  district  clerk  and  Alex  Sweet,  the 
greatest  humorist  the  South  has  produced,  not  excepting  Joel 
Chanler  Harris,  was  its  city  editor  when  I  was  one  of  its  reporters. 
Sweet's  career  is  not  nearly  so  well  known  as  his  inimitable 
writings.  Col.  Dashiell  could  not  appreciate  Alex's  wit,  so 
about  the  time  the  Herald  was  ready  to  collapse  Sweet  retired. 
I  got  him  the  position  of  local  correspondent  of  the  Galveston 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      177 

News  at  San  Antonio.  He  called  his  column  "San  Antonio 
Sittings. ' '  It  was  eagerly  read.  Sweet  also  at  that  period  wrote 
for  the  Express,  but  a  short  time  after  went  to  Austin  where 
he  established  the  Texas  Siftings,  which  had  such  phenomenal 
success  that  it  was  moved  to  New  York  in  order  to  secure 
proper  facilities  for  its  immense  circulation.  Meanwhile  Sweet 
had  associated  with  him  another  eminent  humorist,  J.  Armoy 
Knox.  I  came  over  from  San  Antonio  to  Austin  with  Sweet, 
but  when  he  and  Knox  took  the  paper  North  I  went  back  to 
San  Antonio.  After  publishing  the  paper  in  New  York  in 
partnership  for  some  time  Alex  retired  on  account  of  a  dis- 
agreement with  Knox  who  continued  its  publication,  but  the 
paper  lost  the  spice  and  ginger  Sweet  had  infused  into  it  and 
soon  after  died.  vSweet  became  editor  of  the  Tammany  Times 
in  New  York  and  died  in  harness  there  a  few  years  ago.  One 
of  his  daughters  lives  in  San  Antonio.  One  of  his  sons  was 
a  volunteer  in  the  recent  Spanish-American  War  and  distin- 
guished himself  by  braver}^  as  Alex  had  done  on  the  Confederate 
side  during  the  Civil  War.  Sweet's  old  home  at  C  and  Fourth 
streets  was  recently  destroyed  to  give  place  to  another  struc- 
ture. 

On  account  of  espousing  the  unpopular  side  in  a  political 
campaign  the  old  Herald  died.  Up  to  the  time  of  the  failure 
of  the  Democratic  congressional  convention  to  nominate  either 
John  Ireland  or  Gustav  Schleicher  and  turned  them  both 
loose  to  run  against  each  other  before  the  people,  the  Herald 
had  been  the  successful  competitor  of  the  Express,  but  the  Herald 
espoused  the  cause  of  Ireland,  lost  most  of  its  subscribers 
and  advertising  patrons  and  soon  went  to  its  grave,  while 
the  Express,  sagely  sounding  Schleicher's  praise,  the  latter 
then  having  been  the  most  popular  and  the  successful  one 
of  those  two  candidates,  took  the  ascendency. 

In  1861  James  P.  Newcomb  started  the  Express,  calling 
it  the  Alamo  Express,  and  running  it  but  a  short  time  after. 
He  espoused  the  wrong  side  then  in  his  community,  by  oppos- 
ing Secession.  His  printing  office  was  visited  by  a  mob  that 
pied  and  threw  his  type  out  of  the  window,  broke  his  press 
and  Newcomb  left  the  city  and  joined  the  Federal  army, 
serving  in  it  throughout  the  Civil  War.  At  its  end  he  re- 
turned to  San  Antonio.  He  became  the  Secretary  of  State 
during  the  reconstruction  period  under  Governor  Edmond 
J.  Davis's  regime,  after  which  he  went  back  to  newspaper 
work  at  San  Antonio. 


178      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

In  1875  E.  A.  Siceluff,  Charles  F.  Cotton,  Charles  Seabaugh, 
George,  Ike  and  John  Martin,  together  with  Herman  Schuetze 
secured  the  Express  from  A.  Siemering  and  converted  it  into 
a  daily.  Siceluff  was  its  business  manager,  Col.  Gilles- 
pie its  editor,  Charles  Seabaugh  its  city  editor  and  all  the 
balance  of  those  founding  it  set  type  or  circulated  it,  Cotton 
being  in  charge  of  its  circulation.  Shortly  after  this 
Frank  Grice  came  from  Missouri  to  work  as  a  printer 
for  the  Express,  but  soon  gained  an  interest  and  later  a  con- 
trolling one,  buying  out  the  stock  of  all  of  the  others,  who 


HOUSE    OCCITIEII    BY    MEXICAN"    (;EXEKA1,    Cns       I  \    \ILLITA    WHEX    HE    SU  RREX  UE  K  E 1)    SAX    AXTONIO 

TO    MILAM'S    MEN. 


all  retired  except  Cotton.  He  succeeded  Siceluff,  the  latter  re- 
turning to  his  former  home  in  Aurora,  Mo.,  where  he  now  is.  Mr. 
Cotton,  tw^o  years  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Grice,  resigned  after 
a  constant  connection  of  over  35  years  with  it,  being  succeeded 
by  its  present  business  manager,  Frank  Huntress  Jr.  the  old- 
est in  service  of  any  of  the  present  regime,  except  the  printers 
Wiliam  Patchousky  and  Klepper.  To  this  ]3aper  I  gave  over 
thirty  of  the  best  years  of  my  life,  but  after  the  death  of  Mr. 
Grice  retired  from  its  employ.     In  this  connection   I  do  not 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      179 

believe  it  is  vanity  that  prompts  me  to  say  I  have  contributed 
considerably  to  its  success.  My  reminiscent  and  historic 
special  Sunday  feature  articles  augmented  its  circulation. 
Mr.  Grice,  himself,  took  a  deep  personal  interest  in  them, 
often  suggesting  subjects  and  supplying  data,  although  both 
he  and  the  former  managing  editor,  Frank  H.  Bushick,  gave 
me  a  free  hand  and,  generally  speaking,  I  chose  my  own  sub- 
jects. Many  requests  of  hundreds  of  readers  of  those  arti- 
cles and  of  that  paper  came  to  me  urging  me  to  put  them  in 
book  form.  Those  requests  are  largely  responsible  for  my 
doing  so  and  I  have  culled  my  best  thought  previously  pub- 
lished and  added  some  hitherto  unpublished  matter  and 
put  them  into  print  here.  Frank  Grice  died  in  191)7.  His 
son-in-law,  Robert  Maverick,   has  succeeded    him  as  president. 

Cotemporaneously  with  me  on  the  Express  during  my  ser- 
vice with  it  have  been  some  of  the  brightest  and  most  brilliant 
writers  of  the  present  century.  The  first  of  these  is  Col.  Henry 
C.  King,  Sr.,  now  living  in  Boerne,  who  served  before  coming 
to  San  Antonio,  with  George  Wilkins  Kendall  on  the  old  New 
Orleans  Picayune,  the  first  paper  that  I  ever  worked  on.  Col. 
Gillespie,  who  died  suddenly  in  Austin  was  a  brilliant  writer. 
A  Siemering,  although  a  German,  was  able  to  write  in  both 
the  German  and  English  languages  in  a  powerful  and 
a  polished  manner.  Col.  Howard,  who  died  near  Travis  Park 
was  a  splendid  writer.  W.  C.  Brann,  whom  I  consider  the 
most  brilliant  literary  genius  of  the  newspaper  world  of  the 
past  two  centuries  was  its  most  gifted  editor.  I  believe  he 
would  be  alive  today  had  he  abided  by  advice  I  offered  him 
at  New  Orleans  less  than  two  weeks  before  his  untimely  end 
when  I  urged  him  to  go  to  Chicago,  New  York,  San  Francisco, 
or  some  other  large  city  where  he  would  have  bettered  his  for- 
tune, but  he  said  if  he  did  it  might  be  said  he  had  been  run 
out  of  Waco.  So  he  stayed  there,  made  a  game  fight  and 
died  fighting.  Harry  S.  Canfield,  another  who  met  a  tragic 
fate,  was  one  of  the  very  bright  editors  of  the  Express.  He, 
like  a  number  of  others,  however,  had  to  go  North  to  find 
the  appreciation  not  to  be  obtained  in  a  small  local  field.  Wil- 
liam Ransom,  now  manager  of  the  New  York  City  Associated 
Press,  a  dram.atic  critic  and  musician,  failed  to  find  pro])er 
appreciation  until  he  also  went  on  to  New  York. 

J.  T.  Dickenson,  one  of  the  former  Express  staff,  went 
to  Washington  where  he  soon  became  staff  correspondent 
of  Whitekiw  Reid's  New  ^'ork  Tribune.     Charles  A.  Edwards. 


180      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

Frank  H.  Bushick,  and  Otto  Praeger,  all  three  brainy  and 
forceful  writers,  found  proper  appreciation  at  Washington, 
D.  C.  There  Edwards  now  holds  a  prominent  position  as  does 
Dickinson,  the  latter  being  in  the  department  of  Commerce 
and  Labor,  while  Praeger  is  not  only  an  editor  of  one  of  the 
leading  dailies  there  but  is  the  correspondent  of  more  than 
a  hundred  of  outside  papers  that  he  has  syndicated.  Bushick 
came  back  to  his  native  state  and  is  wielding  the  Archimedian 
lever  and  directing  the  destinies  of  the  Corpus  Christi  Caller. 
Incidentally  it  may  be  added  he  is  doing  so  with  great  verve. 
HoUis  Field,  poetry  and  prose  writer  of  great  power,  had  to 
leave  the  Express  to  go  to  Chicago  to  bring  out  his  latent 


HOUSE    IN    WHICH    GENERAL    TWIGGS    LIVED. 


ability.  Frank  Brittain  also  left  it  to  go  to  San  Francisco, 
where  he  soon  attained  eminence  at  the  bar.  J.  Hampton 
Sullivan,  propably  the  Nestor  of  Texas  newspaper  writers 
and  the  oldest  writer  on  its  present  staff  attained  his  reputa- 
tion as  a  paragraph  and  leader  writer  before  he  entered  its 
employ.  James  A.  Barnes,  whose  friends  endearingly  term 
the  "Deacon,"  has  been  with  it  longer  than  Sullivan  and  is 
likely  to  remain  as  long  as  he  choses.  John  A.  Ford,  its  live- 
stock and  commercial  editor,  a  very  capable  man  and  a  very 
estimable  one,  has  been  with  it  more  than  a  decade  and  a 
half. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lm.mortal  Heroes      181 

Richard  H.  Russell,  formerly  its  livestock  and  commercial 
editor  has  since  retired  as  vice-president  and  general 
manager  and  was  succeeded  by  Frank  Huntress,  Jr.,  and 
George  McQuaid  has  been  replaced  as  managing  editor  by 
John  R.  Lunsford,  who  had  before  served  it  long  and  well. 

Shirley  Johns,  who  died  recently,  was  one  of  its  best 
all  around  workers,  E.  J.  O'Reilly,  who  made  the  ride 
on  a  mustang  from  San  Antonio  to  Chicago,  served  on  its 
staff.  George  Waverly  Briggs,  Austin  Cunningham  and 
Chester  Crowell  are  three  of  its  present  very  bright  staff 
members.  W.  D.  Hornady  formerly  was  its  city  editor.  He 
is  doing  excellent  magazine  work  now.  Stephen  Gould,  who 
like  myself  grew  grey  in  its  service,  and  it  was  good  service 
too,  was  for  years  its  commercial  editor.  Albert  Hartman 
left   it   to   become   Secretary   of   the    International   Club. 

T.  B.  Johnson,  James  P.  New^comb,  A.  W.  Gifford  and  W.  L. 
Winter  established  the  Light  in  1881.  The  Light  w^as  the 
outgrowth  of  the  Surprise,  an  occasional  originated  by  Gift'ord, 
who  retired  some  time  afterward  and  W.  S.  Messmer 
obtained  an  interest.  Newcomb  and  Messmer  both  re- 
tired later.  Winter  having  preceded  both  in  sever- 
ing connection  with  it.  Johnson  died  in  harness  and  it  finally 
has  become  the  property  of  Geo.  D.  Robbins,  its  present 
principal  proprietor.  For  many  years  Frank  J.  Caldwell 
was  its   citv  editor.     He  was   a  faithful   and  efficient  worker. 

F.W.Mosebach, Harry  Johnson  and  A.  B.  Hillan  are  its  pres- 
ent oldest  reporters.  A.M.Munro,  its  manager,  was  formerly 
employed  in  a  similar  capacity  on  the  Gazette  which  it  absorbed 
not  long  ago.  Its  brightest  and  best  writer  recently  is  Joseph 
Emerson  Smith,  who  'is  also  an  artist  with  pencil  and  brush 
and  a  gifted  orator. 

In  1886  Nat  Lewis,  W.  L.  Winter  and  Dr.  I\Iax  Lindner 
started  The  Evening  Paper  with  F.  H.  Bushick  and  William 
Ransom  as  editors  and  reporters.  It  did  not  long  survive. 
Dr.  Lindner  and  Edmond  P.  Claudon  started  a  satirical  car- 
toon paper  called  the  Lantern,  but  its  was  a  light  that  failed 
soon  after  the  match  was  struck. 

McHenry  Claytor,  Robert  Nelson,  Frank  Caldwell  and 
Charles  Cochran  originated  the  old  Daily  Times  as  the  phoenix 
of   the    Herald    in    1879.     Soon   afterward    William    Ferguson 


182      Combats  and  Conquests  of  I:\niORTAL  Heroes 

became  its  managing  editor.  It  lived  for  several  years  and 
during  the  business  management  of  Claytor  flourished,  but 
died  soon  after  the  firebug,  McDonald,  had  burned  it  out  twice 
in   succession  and  attempted  to  do  so  the  third  time. 

The  Times  ran  behind  for  six  years,  although  ably  edited, 
but  its  business  management  was  not  of  a  nature  to  make  the 
paper  succeed  until  O.  C.  Guessaz,  printer  and  newspaper  man 
came  to  the  city  in  1886  and  was  tendered  the  business  man- 
agement. Under  his  guidance  the  paper  began  to  make  money 
and  in  one  short  year  it  was  one  of  the  most  successful  papers 
financially  in  the  Southwest,  but  a  prominent  real  estate  dealer, 
desiring  to  create  a  "boom"  sheet  for  San  Antonio,  caused  a 
lot  of  alleged  newspaper  men  to  come  to  San  Antonio  to  buy 
out  the  Daily  Times.  The  new-comers,  Stinchcomb  and  God- 
dard,  then  organized  a  company  with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000, 
purchased  the  paper  from  Wm.  Ferguson  and  in  less  than  one 
year  had  successfully  absorbed  everything  in  sight,  paper, 
printing  plant  and  all.  Thus  went  out  of  existence  one  of  the 
most  promising  dailies  in  the  state. 

During  the  first  campaign  of  William  Jennings  Bryan 
and  when  James  L.  Slayden  led  what  everyone,  himself  in- 
cluded, considered  a  forlorn  hope,  but  succeeding  in  defeating 
Judge  George  H.  Noonan,  the  powerful  congressional  candi- 
date, Oscar  C.  Guessaz  started  and  through  that  campaign 
conducted  the  Democrat.  He  and  it  contributed  more  to 
Slayden's  success  than  any  one  else  or  thing,  although 
the  attempt  to  lead  Mr.  Bryan  into  the  AVhite  House  was 
futile,  then  as  afterward.  Col.  W.  A.  H.  Miller,  formerly 
of  Llano,  now  a  leading  lawyer  at  Cotulla  next  became  its 
editor  and  publisher. 

Major  Moses  Harris  originated  and  some  years  ran  the 
News,  a  daily  at  San  Antonio.  He  is  now  successfully  con- 
ducting and  ably  editing  the  Republic  the  only  strictly  Re- 
publican  newspaper   in   the   state   of  Texas. 

One  of  the  very  brainy  writers  who  once  made  San  An- 
tonio his  hom.e  and  was  then  the  secretary  of  the  Interna- 
tional Fair  association  is  Col.  Louis  F.  Wortham,  now  editor 
of  the  Ft.  Worth  Star  and  the  Current  Issue  magazine.  He 
is  brilliant  as  a  writer  and  an  eloquent  orator  as  w^ell.  He 
is   now   a    member   of   the    legislature. 

But  these  are  not  all  of  the  eminent  nor  the  prominent 
papers  and  periodicals  of  Texas  and  I  have  only  mentioned 
some   of  the   principal   ones,   the   others   being  too   numerous 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      183 

for  me  to  attempt  to  even  allude  to.  But  all  have  had  their 
places,  wielded  their  influence  and  done  what  they  could. 
They  succeeded  in  promoting  the  causes  and  growth  of  this 
great  empire  state  and  developed  the  environment  in  which 
they  dwelt.  They  deserve  and  have  places  in  the  hearts  of  a 
grateful  people.  Most  of  their  writers  have  replaced  their  pens, 
let  us  hope,  with  harps,  if  not  crowns  and  are  singing  celestial 
praises  instead  of  the    paeons  they  produced  here  on    earth. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

PROMINENT    PEOPLE    WHO    WERE     EARLY    SETTLERS     OF     SAN    AN- 
TONIO   AND    TEXAS    AND    TOOK     CONSPICUOUS     PARTS    IN 
THE    HISTORY    AND    DEVELOPMENT    OF     BOTH 
CITY    AND    STATE. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  city  and  state  were  pro- 
minent personages  who  participated  in  a  number  of  the  prin- 
cipal events  forming  their  history  or  had  careers  that  were 
interesting.  Scions  of  the  families  of  many  of  these  old  set- 
tlers still  reside  on  or  about  the  sites  and  scenes  of  the 
dwellings  and  dramas  which  made  their  ancestors  men  of 
mark  and  women  of  note- 
Perhaps  the  most  distinguished  of  these  families  is  the 
Maverick,  whose  head  was  vSamuel  A.  Maverick,  Sr.,  a  lawyer 
who  came  to  San  Antonio  shortly  before  the 
outbreak  of  trouble  between  the  Texans,  or  "Constitutional- 
ists" and  the  Mexicans.  Mr.  Maverick  first  dwelt  at  the  north 
east  corner  of  Soledad  and  Commerce  streets  where  the  Kamp- 
mann  building  now  stands.  He  acquired  a  great  deal  of 
land,  which  in  those  days,  was  very  cheap,  ten  cents  per  acre 
being  considered  an  extremely  liberal  and  twenty-five  cents 
an  acre  a  most  extravagant  price.  The  site  on  which  the  pre- 
sent Bexar  County  court  house  is  located  is  said  at  one  time 
to  have  been  exchanged  for  a  pair  of  boots,  while  a  GO  acre 
tract,  now  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  its  west  front  being  South 
Alamo  and  northern  one  North  street,  was  swapped  by  its 
then  owner,  Joseph  F.  Beck,  for  ten  wagons  and  their  yokes  of 
steers,  Beck  considering  he  had  made  an  excellent  bargain. 
Samuel  A.  Maverick,  Sr.,wasa  historic  and  ])ictures(jue  charac- 
ter. He  first  became  ])rominent  as  one  of  those  who  guided 
Benjamin  R.  Milam  and  the  hitter's  victorious  forces  into  the 


184      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

city  from  the  Molino  Blanco.  He  was  standing  beside  Milam 
when  the  latter  was  killed  b}^  a  shot  from  a  concealed  sharp 
shooter.  Milam  fell  into  Maverick's  arms  and  died  at  the 
Veramendi.  Next  he  added  more  fame  to  his  stock  by  being 
chosen  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  convention  that  declared 
Texan  independence  from  Mexico  March  2,  1836.  He  was 
first.  Congressman  from  the  San  Antonio  district  to  serve  in 
the  House  of  representatives  of  the  Texan  Republic.  He  was  then 
carried  into  captivity  to  Mexico  and  spent  over  2  years  there 
in  the  Perote  Prison.  Samuel  A.  Maverick  was  the  president 
of  the  Secession  Convention  of  Texas.  As  such  officer  he  signed 
the  first  military  order  issued  in  Texas  by  the  Confederate  States 
government.  It  directed  the  seizure  of  United  States  funds 
in  the  hands  of  the  Federal  Quartermaster. 

Together  with  Thomas  J.  Devine  and  P.  N.  Luckett,  he 
was  chosen  a  commissioner  to  arrange  the  terms  of  surrender 
by  General  Twiggs  of  the  U.  S.  i\rmy  and  troops  commanded 
by  Twiggs  as  well  as  property  of  the  U.  S.  government  to  Gen- 
eral Ben  McCullough's  Confederate  command.  The  pro- 
perty was  delivered  to  the  Commission  headed  by  Maverick 
by  McCullough  immediately  after  the  surrender,  the  delivery 
taking  place  at  the  Veramendi  palace  which  was  then  Twiggs 
headquarters,  as  well  as  the  U.  S.  arsenal,  the  surrender  having 
occurred  previously  at  the  Plaza  house  on  Main  Plaza. 

The  Maverick  family  is  a  race  of  warriors.  Although  it 
is  probable  that  Samuel  Maverick  Sr.,  never  fired  a  shot  at  a 
human  being  or  spilled  a  drop  of  one's  blood,  the  shedding 
of  which  was  abhorrent  to  him,  he  was  an  active  participant 
in  the  governments  and  wars  as  mentioned,  while  three  of 
his  sons,  George  A.,  Lewis  and  Sam,  Jr.,  were  all  gallant  Con- 
federate soldiers,  Lewis,  Sr. ,  having  commanded  a  company 
of  Cavalry,  while  Sam  Jr.  distinguished  himself  by  swimming 
to  the  middle  of  the  Cumberland  river,  setting  fire  to  a  steam- 
boat then  in  charge  of  United  States  troops  and  after  doing 
so  swimming  back  to  the  shore  from  whence  he  started,  although 
under  heavy  fire  from  the  soldiers  of  the  burning  steamer. 
The  boat  was  entirely  destroyed,  but  those  on  it  saved  their 
lives  by  stranding  it  on  the  bank  opposite  that  to  which  Maver- 
ick swam.  A  grandson,  Lewis,  Jr. ,  was  a  private  soldier  in 
Roosevelt's  famous  Rough  Rider  regiment  and  with  it  in  all 
of  the  battles  it  took  part  during  the  Spanish  American 
War  from  its  landing  at  Las  Guasimas  to  the  charge  at  San 
Juan   Hill,   the  regiment   then  being  commanded  by    Colonel 


Combats  axd  Coxouests  of  Lmmortal  Heroes      185 

Theodore  Roosevelt.  Lewis  Maverick  is  now  the  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Rough  Rider's  organization.  Thus  this  family 
figured  in  three  wars.  Samuel  A.  Maverick's  other  sons,  Wil- 
liam and  Albert,  as  well  as  George  and  Sam,  reside  in  San  i\nto- 
nio.   Lewis,  Sr.,  died  many  years  ago,  as  did  Samuel  A.  Maverick 


\ 


SAMUEL    A.    MAVERICK    SR.,     PIOXEER,      PATRIOT,    J  I  A  1  li ;  .M  \.\  ,    LAWYER.    LEU    BE.\    .MILAM   S    ME.N'    INTO    SAN 
ANTO.MO.    SIG.NEK    TE-XAS    DECLARATION     OK    IN  UEl'EN  DEN  CE.       PRESIDENT    SECESSION    CO.N'VEN  TION. 


Sr.  A  daughter,  Mary  now  deceased  was  the  first  v/ife  of  the  late 
Edwin  H.  Terrell,  U.  S.  Minister  Plenipotentiary  and  Ambas- 
sador to  Belgium  under  the  administration  of  President  Ben- 
jamin Harrison.  A  sister  of  Albert  Maverick's  wife  is  the 
wife  of  James  L.  Slaydcn,  j^rescnt  congressional  rei^rcsentative 


186      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

of  the  14th  Texas  district.  A  grandson  of  Samuel  A.  Maverick,  Sr., 
Robert,  married  Laura  Grice,  daughter  of  Frank  Grice,  deceased, 
former  owner  of  the  Daily  Express.  Both  Samuel  A  Maverick 
Sr.,  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Maverick,  kept  interesting  diaries 
and  wrote  memoirs  from  which  I  published  many  interesting 
extracts  in  the  San  Antonio  Express. 

John  D.  Groesbeck,  who  was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  came 
to  Texas  in  1836  just  after  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  and  located 
at  Galveston  where  he  for  four  or  five  years  engaged  in  a  whole- 
sale drug  business.  He  was  a  civil  engineer  by  profession  and 
it  was  he  who  laid  out  the  city  of  Galveston,  his  survey  being 
the  recognized  official  one  today.  He  moved  to  Houston  in  the 
early  '40 's,  remaining  there  until  '46,  when  he  sold  out  his 
business  to  William  M.  Rice,  who  was  murdered  in  New  York, 
and  to  his  cousin  A.  Grosebeck,  one  time  president  of  the  H. 
&  T.  C.  Railway  and  one  of  the  builders  of  that  road  and  of 
the  Capitol,  afterwards  the  Rice  hotel  on  the  site  of  the  old  Texas 
Capitol.  John  D.  Groesbeck  was  married  in  Houston  to  Phoebe 
Henrietta  Tuttle.  He  moved  in  '46  to  San  Antonio,  where  he 
formed  a  parnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  Nat  Lewis,  in 
a  general  mercantile  and  banking  business  and  sutler  for  the 
U.  S.  Army,  furnishing  supplies  to  all  of  its  troops  and  posts 
west  and  northwest  of  San  Antonio.  Their  store  was  situated 
out  on  Main  Plaza  directly  in  front  of  the  present  court  house 
its  front  being  on  a  line  with  Market  street  and  with  Bryan 
Callaghan's  store,  which  was  on  a  line  with  Galan  street.  Its 
east  boundary  was  what  was  then  called  Quinta  street.  This 
property,  together  with  Callaghan's  has  since  become  and 
forms  the  southern  portion  of  Main  Plaza.  Lewis  and  Groes- 
beck owned  a  large  number  of  wagons  and  mules  forming  trains 
which  hauled  their  supplies.  The  late  Capt.  William  M.  Edgar 
was  for  years  in  charge  of  some  of  their  trains.  John  D.  Groes- 
beck purchased  the  old  Tom  Howard  home  on  Quinta,  now 
Dwyer  Avenue,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1856.  His 
son,  J.  N.  Groesbeck  and  other  descendants  still  live  there. 
It  adjoins  the  old  Quinta  and  former  home  of  John  Bowen, 
first  American  postmaster  of  San  Antonio.  John  D.  Groesbeck 
was  an  alderman  in  1852.  The  Groesbeck  is  one  of  the 
most  important  families  in  San  Antonio  today. 

William  A.  Wallis,  generally  called.  "Big  Foot, ^'  was  a  Virgin- 
ian who  came  to  Texas  in  1837,  locating  first  near  Lagrange 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Colorado  River.  While  there  he  was  cap- 
tured   by    Comanche    Indians.     One   of  their   number   was   a 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      187 

comely  squaw  who  fell  in  love  with  Wallis,  She  liberated  him 
and  he  escaped.  In  1840,  with  John  H.  Moore  he  served  in 
a  campaign  against  Kickapoo  Indians  whom  they  routed, 
He  was  with  Caldwell  in  the  disastrous  battle  of  the  Salado 
against  Mexicans.  He  was  a  member  of  the  ill-fated  Mier  ex- 
pedition, but  was  one  of  those  fortunate  enough  to  draw  a 
white  bean,  thus  saving  his  life.  Returning  from  the 
Mexican  prison  he  joined  Jack  Hay's  ranger  force.  In 
the  Twin  Sisters'  fight,  the  first  in  which  revolving 
pistols  were  used,  he  killed  every  Indian  at  whom 
he  shot,  riding  fearlessly  up  to  close  quarters  with 
each  of  his  adversaries.  At  the  battle  of  Agua  Dulce,  (Sweet 
Water),  he  was  made  a  lieutenant  for  gallantry.  Next  year 
Governor  Bell  gave  "Big  Foot"  Wallis  a  commission  to  or- 
ganize a  company  of  his  own.  On  August  5,  1850,  with  this 
company  of  but  23  rangers  he  fought  and  vanquished  125 
Indians  on  the  Laredo  road.  The  fight  lasted  seven  hours 
and  was  resumed  the  next  day.  In  it  20  Indians  were  killed 
and  65  captured.  In  1852  he  was  guide  and  guard  for  the  stage 
plying  680  miles  between  San  Antonio  and  El  Paso  and  had 
but  5  men  in  his  escort.  October  8th  of  that  year  50  Lipan 
Indians  attacked  his  party  near  Devil's  River.  Wallis'  force 
fought  from  one  o'clock  p.  m.  the  balance  of  the  day  and  all 
night,  killing  several  of  the  savages.  On  November  19th  of 
this  same  year  Apaches  attacked  his  party  at  El  Muerto,  (Death) 
Springs,  killing  some  and  capturing  others  of  his  mules.  In 
1853  near  Van  Horn  one  of  his  men  was  killed  in  a  fight  with 
Indians.  He  had  another  engagement  with  them  on  his  re- 
turn during  the  same  trip  near  the  same  place  and  was  vic- 
torious in  all  encounters  with  them,  although  he  was  wounded 
several  times  and  showed  me  where  arrows  had  been  pulled 
out  of  his    breast,    arms    and    legs. 

He  also  fought  bravely  during  the  Civil  War  on  the  Con- 
federate side.  On  one  occasion  he  stated  that  Capt.  Morril 
Poor  had  saved  his  life  when  he  had  typhoid  fever,  by  gi\'ing 
him  buttermilk  of  which  Wallis  said  he  drank  fully  a  gallon 
without  stopping.  W^allis  in  one  of  his  encounters  with  Indians 
captured  one  of  their  chiefs,  a  very  large  and  powerful  Indian, 
to  whom  he  promised  protection  when  the  Indian  surrendered. 
Wallis  took  him  to  Austin  and  delivered  him  to  Governor  Bell. 
This  was  just  after  Indians  had  made  a  raid  about  Austin 
in  which  several  of  the  people  of  that  ]jlace  had  been  killed 
and  wounded  and  much  of  their  stock  driven  off  bv  the  Indians. 


188      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

They  attempted  to  kill  this  Indian  chief  while  Wallis  had  him 
in  his  custody,  but  Wallis  told  them  they  would  have  to  kill 
him  first  and  he  would  kill  the  first  one  who  attempted  to  harm 
his  Indian.  They  knew  Wallis  and  let  the  Indian  then  alone 
but  vowed  vengeance  later.  The  Governor  did  not  know 
what  to  do  with  the  Indian  and  told  Wallis  to  dispose  of  him 
as  he  saw  fit,  but  in  some  humane  way.  "Big  Foot"  mounted 
his  horse  and  told  the  Indian  to  walk  beside  him.  They  went 
out  into  the  mountains  and  across  the  Colorado  River  about 
five  miles  northwest  of  Austin.  There  Wallis  dismounted, 
told  the  Indian  to  take  the  horse  and  leave  but  never  again 
to  molest  any  white  people.  Wallis  walked  back  all  the  way 
to  Austin  and  told  the  Governor  he  owed  him  a  horse,  a  bridle 
and  a  saddle  for  ridding  him  of  the  Indian.  He  got  them. 
Wallis  frequently  met  that  Indian  under  a  tree  in  the  Sabinal 
Canyon  afterward  and  they  often  smoked  the  calumet.  Co- 
manches  never  molested  Wallis  after  that.  Whenever  they 
knew  of  his  coming  all  of  them  but  this  chief  kept  out  of  his 
way.  This  chief  made  him  many  presents  and  offered  him 
a  very  fine  horse,  but  Wallis  feared  to  keep  it  lest  it  had 
been    stolen. 

Willis  Wallace,  Sr.,  and  Frank  Wallace  were  two  distin- 
guished San  Antonians  of  early  days,  but  not  related  to  "Big 
Foot,"  both  were  veterans  of  the  Mexican  and  Civil  wars. 
Onecimus  Evans,  a  merchant,  was  also  one  of  the  early  set- 
lers  here  and  a  partner  of  one  of  these  Wallaces.  Albert  Wal- 
lace, a  Confederate  Captain,  belonged  to  the  Wallace  family. 

O 'Sullivan  Addicks  in  early  days  was  county  clerk.  He 
together  with  Anton  Lockmar  and  James  Dunn  were  cap- 
tured by  Comanche  Indians  and  carried  into  captivity.  Dunn, 
then  a  very  small  boy,  was  given  by  one  of  the  chiefs  to  his 
squaw.  The  boy  had  a  very  red  complexion  as  well  as  hair 
and  was  freckled.  The  Indian  woman  thought  the  child's 
color  was  paint  and  also  his  freckles.  She  tried  by  scrubbing 
to  remove  them,  but  the  process  made  Dunn  still  redder.  Ad- 
dick's  chief  deputy  when  clerk  was  Ben  Edwards,  father  of 
Frank  Edwards,  a  present  resident  of  this  city  who  served  as 
the  model  for  Crockett  in  Onderdonk's  painting,  "At  the  Alamo's 
Brave  Battle."  Addicks  was  an  officer  under  General  Ilarne}^ 
in   the   Mexican   War. 

Dunn  had  other  Indian  adventures.  While  bathing  in 
the  Leona  with  John  Ackland  and  Rufus  Perry,  Indians  came 
upon  them  and  drove  their  horses  off  and  w^ounded  all  three 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      189 

severely  with  arrows.  The  wounded  men  straggled  into  town 
one  at  a  time,  having  become  separated  and  each  believing  the 
others  had  succumbed  to  their  wounds.  On  another  occasion 
while  John  James  St.,  was  attacked  by  a  large  and  strong  In- 
dian, who  was  about  to  kill  James,  with  a  knife,  Jim  Dunn'ar- 


WILLIAM     A.     (big    foot)    WALI.IS,    FAMOUS     SCOUT    AND    INDIAN    FIGHTER,    ALSO    CONFEDERATE    VETERAN 

rived  opportunely  and  shot  the  Indian,  killing  him.  Dunn 
had  to  put  his  arm  around  James  to  shoot  this  Indian.  Dunn's 
son,  Clemente,  resides  in  San  Antonio.  Dunn  was  killed  in 
the  last  battle  fought  near  Brownsville,  at  the  end  of  the  Civil 
War. 


190      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

John  James  was  a  surveyer,  who  frequently,  in  his  trips 
over  immense  areas  of  the  frontier,  encountered  Indians. 
He  lived  on  Commerce  street  at  the  head  of  Presa,  where  his 
dwelling  still  stands,  being  now  used  for  commercial  purposes. 
He  also  owned  the  site  and  buildings  at  Ft-  Davis,  where  the  Gov- 
ernment during  the  Indian  raids,  kept  troops,  commanded  by 
Colonels,  afterwards  Generals,  Stanley,  Shafter,  McKenzie  and 
Grierson,  all  famous  Indian  fighters.  A  brother  of  General 
Grierson  lives  there  now. 

John  James  Sr.,  was  the  father  of  Chief  Justice  J.  H.  James 
of  the  Fourth  Court  of  Civil  Appeals,  of  Thomas  James  deceased, 
an  excellent  musician,  Vinton  James,  former  City  Auditor, 
Scott  and  Sidney  James.  His  daughters  were  Annie  Laurie, 
deceased,  wife  of  Alfred  Giles,  Lottie,  wife  of  John  Sehorn, 
Diana,  wife  of  John  T.  Dickinson  and  a  deceased  daughter, 
Agnes,  wife  of  Dr.  L.  L.  Shropshire.  John  James  Sr.,  was  in 
the  well  known  "Grass  Fight,"  which  took  place  between  San 
Antonians  and  Mexicans  a  short  distance  from  the  city  when 
the  residents  went  out  on  the  prairie  to  cut  hay  for  their  horses. 
They  were  intercepted  by  their  adversaries  and  several  were 
killed,  but  they  mangaged  to  defeat  their  foes  and  retreat  to 
town.  A  brother  of  John  James,  Sr.,  a  major  in  the  Confederate 
army  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Glorietta. 

Colonel  John  S.Ford,  ("Old  Rip,")  who  was  another  Texas 
pioneer  and  ranger  as  well  as  successful  Indian  fighter  was 
in  command  of  the  Confederate  forces  when  the  last  battle 
of  the  Civil  war  was  fought  and  he  was  victorious,  capturing 
a  large  Federal  force  and  many  supplies  and  horses,  tord 
fought  this  engagement  several  weeks  after  Lee  had  surrend- 
ered to  Grant  at  Appomatox,  Virginia,  but  was  ignorant  of 
that  fact,  there  then  having  been  no  telegraphic  communica- 
tion, and  news  and  orders  that  came  by  courier  traveled  slowly. 
When  Ford  heard  the  news  of  Lee's  surrender  he  roared  like 
a  lion  and  kept  his  tent  for  several  days  during  which  none 
of  his  command  dared  approach  him.  Finally  it  dawned 
on  him  that  a  huge  joke  had  been  perpetrated  whereupon 
he  roared  equally  loud  with  laughter.  He  told  the  United 
States  officer  in  command  of  his  Federal  prisoners  he  would 
release  him  and  his  troops  but  he  would  keep  all  of  the  suppHes 
and  particularly  the  horses  captured  with  them  so  Ford's  own 
men  would  have  mounts  and  food  enough  to  reach  home  with. 
They  had  to  travel  overland.  The  Union  forces  had  ships 
and  other  transports  at  Brazos  Santiago  to  carry  them  back  to 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      191 

the  North  if  they  wished  to  go,  as  they  did.  His  daughter 
Mrs.  Joseph  Maddox,  lives  in  San  Antonio-  Ford  was  also  a 
good  writer  and  historian- 

A  prominent  family  was  the  Jacques.  Mrs.  Jacques  was 
a  heroine.  During  two  of  the  cholera  epidemics  she  nursed 
a  number  of  those  stricken  with  it,  first  in  1849  and  next  in 
1866  in  which  latter  year  she  died  of  the  epidemic  while  engaged 
in  nursing  patients  afflicted  with  it.  Her  husband  owned 
a  ranch  on  the  Medina  and  she  kept  a  boarding  house  in  the 
old  two-story  building  on  vSoledad  street  recently  demolished 
to  open  Travis  street  across  the  San  Antonio  river.  Both 
of  these  epidemics  created  panics  here  and  many  died  from 
the  disease.  Quite  a  number  fled  to  the  mountains  where 
some  died  of  the  disease  that  broke  out  there  among  them 
and  was  communicated  to  the  Indians  who  attacked  their 
camps,  the  Indians  falling  victims  to  the  dreadful  malady. 
A  daughter  of  hers,  who  was  the  widow  of  a  man  named  Shane, 
married  Dr-  George  Cupples,  one  of  the  old  time  physicians  and 
humanitarians  here.  The  doctor  practiced  extensively  among 
the  poor  whom  he  treated  gratis.  Many  of  his  patients  were 
so  poverty  stricken  as  not  to  be  able  to  afford  burning  lights 
so  Cupplies  always  carried  a  candle  in  his  pocket  to  be  avail- 
able when  visiting  the  homes  of  such.  He  was  a  noted  surgeon 
and  performed  some  remarkable  operations,  among  them 
the  "Caesarian"  and  "hip  joint"  amputation  successfully.  His 
widow  died  here  several  years  ago.  Her  daughter,  Kate  Shane, 
lives  here.  She  is  the  wife  of  an  English  gentleman  named 
Lambkin. 

William  Henry,  known  as  "Big"  Henry,  was  a  noted 
character  in  San  Antonio.  He  was  the  sheriff  and  a  nephew 
of  the  celebrated  orator,  Patrick  Henry.  He  was  killed  in  a 
difficulty  with  a  man  named  Adams  over  the  question  which 
should  command  a  company  of  Confederate  soldiers.  This 
killing  occurred  on  the  north  side  of  Main  Plaza  in  front  of 
the  Old  Plaza  House,  a  three-story  structure  then  kept  by 
William  Tobin.  In  this  immediate  vicinity  a  number  of  other 
memorable  tragedies  occurred.  Almost  on  the  same  spot 
where  Henry  fell  in  another  fight  between  two  other  Confeder- 
ate Captains  named  respectively  Hunter  and  Philli])s,  the 
former  shot  and  slew  the  kitter.  Just  in  front  of  there  a  man 
from  Austin  called  "Beaut"  Robinson,  while  sitting  on  his 
horse  was  shot  by  a  passing  horseman,  whose  identity  was  never 
afterward    definitely    established.     On    the    corner    I'ust    east 


192      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

of  there  Doctor  Devine  killed  a  man  named  McDonald  while 
on  the  same  corner  but  inside  the  building  at  the  time  of  the 
latter  tragedies,  known  as  the  Vaudeville  variety  show  Ben 
Thompson,  at  that  time  city  marshal  of  Austin,  killed  its 
proprietor,  Jack  Harris,  while  at  the  same  place  Thompson 
and  King  Fisher,  his  companion,  in  turn,  some  time  afterward 
were  killed  by  Joe  Foster,  a  partner  of  Harris,  and  other  in- 
mates of  the  place.  Thompson  had  previously  shot  Foster 
in  the  leg,  from  the  effects  of  the  operation  for  that  wound 
Foster  died  several  days  later.  Foster  had  been  wounded 
in  the  same  limb  during  the  civil  war.  An  aneurism  had  formed 
in  one  of  its  arteries.  The  aneurism  burst,  causing  Foster's 
death    from    hemorrhage. 

On  this  same  corner  a  man  named  Walpole  was  also  killed 
by  a  shot  fired  in  a  duel  between  two  men  named  respectively 
Brady  and  John,  or  "Buck"  Bennett,  Walpole  having  been 
merely  a  spectator  who  was  in  range. 

Enoch  Jones  was  a  merchant  who  built  the  first  three 
story  store  in  San  Antonio.  Just  as  he  built  it  it  stands  at 
the  northeast  corner  of  Market  street  and  Main  Plaza  on  the 
site  of  the  structure  made  memorable  by  being  the  old  court- 
house wherein  the  Indian  massacre,  described  in  another 
chapter,  took  place,  and  also  where  a  number  of  prominent 
San  Antonians  were  captured  and  carried  off  to  Perote  prison 
in   Mexico   subsequent   to   the   Texas   war   for   independence. 

Enoch  Jones's  partner  in  this  establishment  was  Joseph 
LTrich  yet  residing  here  at  the  corner  of  Avenue  C  and  Fourth 
street.  Ulrich,  who  was  a  printer,  set  up  the  prospectus  an- 
nouncing the  forthcoming  of  Horace  Greely's  New  York  Tribune. 
He  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the  only  present  San  An- 
tonian  whose  name  has  consecutively  appeared  on  every  city 
directory  in  that  city  from  the  first  one  published  up  to  the 
one  issued  this  year.  He  for  years,  was  secretary  of  the  Water- 
works company.  From  him  I  have  obtained  considerable  of  the 
data  I  have  herein  published. 

Russell  Howard  was  a  brilliant  lawyer  who  lived  here  for 
many  years  and  died  here  several  years  ago.  He  was 
a  cholera  sufferer  in  1866,  and  was  nursed  by  Mrs.  Jacques 
up  to  a  few  hours  before  her  death  from  that  disease.  His 
widow  was  a  Miss  Elliott,  the  ElHotts  being  prominent  pioneers 
who  owned  property  on  the  north  side  of  Main  Plaza,  among 
it  the  Plaza  house.  She  is  residing  here  now  and  is  a  sister 
of  the  late  Captain  William  Elliott. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      193 

Captain  William  Tobin  was  quite  a  prominent  personage  of 
early  days,  besides  having  been  the  host  of  the  Plaza  House  and 
the  old  Vance  House,  the  latter  having  stood  where  the  Gunter 
now  stands ,  he  figured  prominently  in  what  was  known  as  the ' '  Cor- 
tina" war,  which  has  been  erroneously  confounded  with  the  "Cart 
war.'  Cortina  was  a  bandit  who  operated  on  the  Rio  Grande 
border  all  the  way  from  Brownsville  to  Laredo  shortly  before 
the  Civil  War  and  raided  Brownsville,  killing  several  of  the 
citizens  there,  stealing  stock  and  killing  Americans  and  others 
who  opposed  him.  William  Tobin,  who  endeavored  to  capture 
Cortina,  was  also  a  Captain  in  the  Confederate  army  and  in 
the  service  during  the  entire  Civil  War.  He  was  the  father 
of  John  W.  Tobin  now  Sheriff,  former  fire  chief,  William  G. 
Tobin,  Charles  Tobin  and  of  Mrs.  John  A.  Fraser,  Mrs  Sam 
Bell,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Carr  and  Mrs.  Burrows.  His  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  John  W.  Smith,  San  Antonio's  first  Amer- 
ican mayor,  who  with  Maverick,  lead  Milam's  forces  into 
San  Antonio,  and  a  sister  of  the  late  J.  W.  Smith,  a  mer- 
chant and  postmaster  at   Pleasanton. 

Bryan  Callaghan  Sr.,  was  a  prominent  merchant  and  served 
a  term  as  mayor  of  San  Antonio.  He  owned  a  store  that  stood 
on  the  southwest  side  of  Main  Plaza,  its  front  being  parallel 
to  Galan  street  and  its  rear  to  the  north  side  of  Dolorosa  street. 
It  was  removed  and  its  site  now  forms  the  southwest  corner 
of  that  Plaza.  He  was  the  father  of  the  present  mayor  of 
this  city  who  is  his  namesake.  The  latter  married  the  daughter 
of  Francisco  Guilbeau,  a  French  merchant.  His  other  son  was 
James  Callaghan,  also  a  merchant  here  who  married  a  daughter 
of  Honore  Grenet,  sister  of  Edward  Grenet,  the  celebrated  art- 
ist. The  widow  of  Bryan  Callaghan,  Sr.,  married  a  Navarro, 
a  brother  of  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Texas  declaration  of  In- 
dependence.    She  died  in  San  x\ntonio  very  recently. 

Nat  Lewis  was  a  well  known  merchant  and  stockman,  who 
had  a  very  narrow  escape  from  death  when  Santa  Anna's  army 
invaded  the  city.  His  store  was  also  on  Main  Plaza  on  a  line 
with  the  front  of  Callaghan 's,  but  east  of  it.  Its  site  forms  the 
present  corner  of  that  plaza.  He  left  on  the  approach  of  Santa 
Anna.  He  was  a  brother  of  Henry  Lewis,  a  very  brilliant  lawyer 
and  editor  of  the  West  Texan,  the  first  paper  published  in 
San  Antonio.  Nat  Lewis  was  the  father  of  Nat  Lewis  Jr.,  and 
Dan   Lewis,    present   residents   of   San   Antonio. 

Edward  Dwyer,  who  was  the  father  of  Joseph  E.  Dwyer, 
and  grandfather  of  the  present  district  judge,  his  namesake, 


194      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

and  of  Joseph  and  Pat  Dwyer  and  Mrs.  Annette  Schmitt,  widow 
of  the  late  George  J.  F.  Schmitt,  was  an  early  San  Antonio 
settler.  He  owned  the  corner  where  Bexar  County's  court  house 
is  located.  His  son,  Joseph's  home,  just  behind,  still  stands 
there  opposite  the  old  Quinta.  Joseph  E.  Dwyer  was  a  Major 
in  Sibley's  brigade  of  the  Confederate  army.  Edward  Dwyer 
Sr.,  together  with  Major  Thomas  Howard,  John  Duzenbury 
and  Charles  J.  Burgess  were  scouts  of  the  United  States  army, 
who  discovered  the  approach  of  the  Mexican  army  during  the 
]\Iexican  war.  Edward  Dwyer  brought  the  news  to  San  Antonio, 
while  the  other  scouts  carried  the  information  to  the  commanding 
officer  of  a  regiment  to  whom  they  reported  the  approach  of  the 
Mexicans,  but  the  regimental  commander  discredited  the  infom- 
mation  and  said  it  was  his  opinion  the  Mexicans  seen  were  only 
a  SQiall  force  wishing  to  trade  "piloncillos,"  small  cones  of  sugar, 
to  the  American  troops.  This  officer's  incredulity  caused  the 
capture  by  the  Mexicans  of  himself  and  his  entire  command. 

Judge  Thomas  A.  Dwyer,  brother  of  Edward  Dwyer,  was  a 
pioneer  and  true  type  of  the  old  Irish  gentleman.  He  was  county 
Judge  here  about  the  time  I  came  to  San  Antonio,  One  of  his 
sons  Jack,  is  a  well  known  actor.  One  of  his  daughters,  Annie, 
married  Major  Nolan,  a  United  States  army  officer  and  In- 
dian fighter,  another  daughter,  Mollie,  also  married  another 
officer  of  the  U.  S.  army.  Bessie,  his  youngest  daughter,  for 
some  time  was  a  librarian  of  the  Congressional  library  at  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  She  took  a  lawyer's  degree  in  a  law  university 
and  went  out  to  the  Philippines,  where  she  is  now  one  of  the 
judges,  having  spent  several  years  as  a  prominent  legal  prac- 
titioner. 

There  were  two  families  of  Howards  very  prominent  in 
San  Antonio.  One  of  them  lived  on  Quinta  street,  now  Dwyer 
Avenue,  of  whom  there  were  three  brothers,  Volney,  a  lawyer  and 
congressman  from  this  district  during  the  days  of  the  Texas 
Republic,  Richard  and  Russell,  the  latter  previously  men- 
tioned.    All  are  dead. 

The  other  Howard  family  lived  on  South  Alamo  at  the 
head  of  Market  street.  There  were  also  three  brothers  of  this 
family,  who  were  George  Thomas,  deceased,  a  Major  in  the  Mexican 
war  and  also  a  scout  and  Indian  fighter  and  U.  S.  Indian  agent. 
The  second  brother,  Clem,  was  also  an  Indian  fighter,  now 
a  resident  of  San  Angelo  and  the  third.  Dr.  Henry  Peyton 
Howard,  called  by  his  many  friends,  "Hal"  Howard,  residing 
now  in  Dallas.     He  was  a  leading  medical  practitioner  of  early 


Combats  and  Coxouests  of  Lmmortal  Heroes      195 

days  and  was  also  postmaster  here  during  Cleveland's  first 
presidential  incumbency.  His  son  and  namesake,  residing 
near  Floresville,  served  in  the  Spanish  American  war  as  a  lieu- 
tenant of  the  Belknap  troop  of  the  1st  Texas  \^olunteer  Cav- 
alry. 


MAJOR  LEWIS  .MAVERICK   SR.    SECOND   AMERICAN   MALE   BORN   IN   SAN   ANTO.VIO.    OF     SECOND     GENERATION 
OF    MAVERICK    FAMILY.    BRAVE    CONFEDERATE    SOLDIER. 

Jack  Hays  was  another  celebrity  of  San  Antonio  and  Texas. 
He  was  a  noted  scout  and  ranger,  who  commanded  first  a 
company  of  rangers,  afterward  a  regiment  of  them  and  ultimately 
became  a  bris^adier  "general  after  he  left  here  and  went  to  Cali- 


196      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

fornia.  He  was  related  to  the  Calvert  family  of  Seguin  and 
also  of  the  Rutland  family  of  Mississippi,  my  wife's  people. 
He  died  in  California.  He  had  many  successful  engagements 
with  Indians.  Many  prominent  Indian  fighters  served  with 
and  under  him.  He  is  said,  like  "Big  Foot"  Wallis,  to  have 
been  utterly  fearless. 

John  Twohig  was  another  typical  Irish  gentleman.  He 
was  a  banker  and  merchant.  He  was  C|uite  eccentric  and 
also  very  charitable.  When  he  heard  the  Mexican  army 
was  marching  here,  knowing  it  would  loot  his  store,  which  was 
then  near  the  corner  of  Main  Plaza  and  Commerce  street,  he 
invited  all  of  the  poor  of  the  population  to  come  to  it  and  help 
themselves.  The  invitation  was  accepted.  It  is  needless 
to  state  when  Waul's  army  arrived  the  Mexican  soldiers  found 
nothing  to  carry  away.  Twohig  was  one  of  those  who  was 
taken  by  this  Mexican  general  as  a  captive  to  the  celebrated 
Perote  Prison,  from  which  he  made  a  sensational  escape  and 
boldly  rode  in  a  carriage  through  the  streets  of  the  City  of  Mexico. 
His  home  was  a  c|uaint  structure  on  the  San  Antonio  River, 
fronting  on  St.  Mary's  street.  He  always  entertained  every 
visitor  of  prominence  soon  after  arrival  here. 

John  Carolan  was  another  Irishman  of  note.  He  was 
for  a  time  district  and  county  clerk  and  was  an  autioneer  and 
merchant,  his  store  being  where  Frost's  bank  is  now. 

Francisco  Guilbeau  was  a  French  merchant  whose  home 
was  on  South  Flores  street  and  his  store  was  at  the  northeast 
comer  of  Laredo  and  Commerce  streets.  He  was  also  the 
consular  agent  here  of  France.  The  great  Napoleon  decorated 
him  on  the  battle  field  for  bravery,  giving  him  the  Cross  of 
the  Legion  of  Honor,  an  heirloom  now  in  his  family.  Two 
sons  and  a  daughter  survive  him  and  live  in  San  Antonio.  His 
daughter  is  the  wife  of  San  Antonio's  present  mayor,  Bryan 
Callaghan. 

Ben  Hill  was  a  brave  Texan  of  olden  days,  who  met  with 
a  tragic  death  at  Victoria.  Besides  having  been  a  frontiersman, 
Indian  fighter  and  ranger,  he  was  a  Confederate  soldier.  When 
he  returned  from  the  war  he  was  wearing  a  Confederate  uni- 
form. Some  United  States  soldiers  at  Victoria  tried  to  make 
him  take  it  off  and  also  attempted  to  cut  the  brass  buttons 
from  his  coat.  In  the  scuffle  that  arose  over  this  he  killed  one 
of  the  soldiers.  He  was  then  assailed  by  several  more  of  them 
and  killed  three  others  before  taking  refuge  in  a  small   build- 


Combats  and  Coxquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      197 

ing  where  they  killed  him,  after  he  had  exhausetd  all  his  am- 
munition. After  he  fell  they  litterally  chopped  his  body  into 
fragments    with    axes. 

P.   L.    Buquor,   a   Louisianan,   was  an  early    settler,   who 


JON'H    D.   GROESBECK,    PIONEER    MERCHA.NT   WHO   HA.N'DLED   .M.\.\Y   .MILLIONS   OF   POU.N'DS   OF   MILIT.\RY  SUP- 
PLIES     FOR      FRONTEER      FORTS. 

was  one  of  the  mayors  of  San  Antonio.      His  widow  died  at 
Floresville  several  years  ago. 

Gore  Newcomb  Sr.,  a  lawyer  and  a  very  briUiant  man, 
was  a  prominent  pioneer.  He  was  the  father  of  James  P.  New- 
comb  and  Gore  Newcomb  Jr.     James  P.  Newcoml)  was   a  brainy 


198  ■    Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

newspaper  writer.  He  wrote  satire  and  was  vitriolic.  He 
was  the  founder  of  the  Alamo  Express,  since  the  Daily  Express, 
and  one  of  those  of  the  Evening  Light,  since  hyphenated  with 
the^Gazette.  He  died  several  years  ago.  His  brother,  Gore's 
life  ended  with  a  tragic  fate.  He  was  killed  by  a  trap  gun 
he  had  set  to  kill  wolves  with. 

James  L.  Trueheart  was  a  Texan  with  an  eventful  carreer. 
He  was  the  county  clerk  at  the  time  of  the  raid  by  the  Mexican 
general  who  captured  the  court  officers  and  other  prominent 
citizens  and  was  with  them  taken  to  Perote  Prison. 

James  Peacock,  who  was  a  ranger  was  also  one  of  the 
ill-stared  Santa  Fe  expedition  and  spent  some  time  in  prison 
there.  He  drew  one  of  the  white  beans,  thus  escaping  execution. 

Sam  S.  Smith  was  a  well  known  citizen  and  official.  He 
owned  the  corner  of  Main  Plaza  and  Soledad  street  where  so 
many  casualties  previously  mentioned  occurred.  He  was 
county  clerk  for  over  30  years,  but  during  the  interim  of  re- 
construction was  replaced  by  Peyton  Smith,  whom  in  time  he 
succeeded.  His  son  Thad  W.  Smith,  was  his  successor  for  twenty 
years,  that  office  having  been  in  that  family  for  half  a  century. 
Sam  S-  Smith  was  a  son-in-law  of  O.  G.  Brackett,  for  whom 
the  town  of  Brackettville  is  named  and  who  died  here  many  years 
many  ago.  The  grave  of  Brackett  had  been  lost,  but  was  found 
recently  and  the  remains  removed.  Sam  Smith  resided  on 
Obraje  street.  He  left  two  sons,  Oscar  B.  B.  Smith,  a  farmer, 
and  Thadeus  W.  Smith  now  in  the  city  tax  collector's  office. 
Thad  Smith  was  succeeded  by  F.  C.  Newton,  a  pioneer,  who 
had  previously  been  city  public  weigher  and  died  in  office 
while  county  clerk.  Newton  was  succeeded  also  by  his  son, 
present    incumbent. 

Major  Michael  Chevalier  was  a  Virginia  gentleman,  who 
commanded  a  battalion  of  dragoons  during  the  Mexican  war 
and  lived  in  San  Antonio  for  sometime  thereafter. 

Captain  William  M.  Edgar,  recently  deceased,  who  has 
been  mentioned  in  several  other  places  in  this  book,  was  one 
of  the  old  residents  prominent  as  a  frontiersman,  Indian  fighter, 
wagon  train  master  and  commander  of  a  Confederate  battery 
of  artillery.  He  was  U.  S.  Consular  agent  at  the  City  of  Mex- 
ico during  the  administration  of  president  Cleveland. 

Samuel  Gallatin  Newton  was  one  of  the  prominent  lawyers, 
of  early  days.  His  office  was  located  in  the  three  story  build- 
ing erected  by  Enoch  Jones.     His  law  partner  was  Ira  L.  Hewitt. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      199 

Newton's  son  and  namesake  is  now  a  distinguished  jurist  of 
Texas.     He  was  formerly   district  judge  at   San  Antonio. 

William  Lytle  was  a  veteran  settler  here  who  saw  service 
in  the  Texas,  the  Mexican  and  Civil  Wars,  besides  fighting 
Indians  and  outlaw^s.  His  ranch  was  on  the  Medina.  He 
was  the  head  of  the  Lytle  family  and  came  here  in  1845.  He 
had  a  blacksmith  establishment.  His  sons  were  Sam  and 
Charles.  The  latter  was  killed  on  the  ranch  just  mentioned. 
Sam  Lytle  was  a  Confederate  captain  and  also  a  Mexican  War 
veteran.  He  resides  in  San  Antonio  where  he  has  two  sons 
William  J.  and  Nelson  and  a  daughter,  Nellie,  the  latter  as- 
sistant   to    the    postmaster. 

John  Conrad  Beckmann  was  another  pioneer  blacksmith, 
who  died  here  in  1907.  He  was  employed  by  the  government 
in  the  Alamo  and  had  two  sons,  John  A.,  living  near  Leon  Springs 
and   Albert,    deceased. 

Charles  Hummel  and  B.  Mauermann,  both  of  whom  died 
some  years  since  were  pioneer  gunsmiths  and  expert  lock- 
makers.  The  latter  was  the  father  of  Bernhardt  J.  Mauermann, 
alderman  at  large  and  Gustav  Mauermann,  former  city  mar- 
shal. C.  F.  A.  Hummel,  present  city  treasurer,  is  a  son  of 
the  late   Charles   Hummel. 

John  Earl  was  an  old  scout  and  Indian  fighter  who  lived 
on  Fifth  street.  He  is  survived  by  his  daughter,  the  wife 
of  B.   J.   Mauermann. 

Ira  S.  Poor,  a  merchant  and  farmer  as  well  as  a  stock- 
man was  one  of  the  pioneers  who  was  a  veteran  of  both  the 
Texas  independence  and  Mexican  wars.  He  came  to  Texas 
in  1832  and  to  San  Antonio  in  1848.  His  ranch  was  located 
west  of  the  San  Antonio  River  just  below  the  Concepcion  Mis- 
sion. He  was  the  father  of  D.  M.  and  Fred  S.  Poor  and  had 
two  stepsons,  R.  W.  and  Colon  D.  McRae.  His  son,  David 
Morrill  Poor,  was  born  during  the  days  of  the  Texas  Republic 
in  1,838.  He  served  four  years  throughout  the  Civil  War 
as  private,  lieutenant  and  Captain  of  Company  B.,  2nd  regi- 
ment of  Texas  Cavalry  which  was  part  of  Sibley's,  Green's 
and  Hardeman's  brigades  of  the  Confederate  army  and  was 
Major  General  commanding  the  Texas  division  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  department  U.  C.  V.  He  was  county  assessor 
for  6  years  and  4  years  commissioner  of  the  fourth  county 
precinct. 

Thomas  Grayson,  an  early  settler,  was  attorney  general 
of  the  Texas  Republic,  for  whom  Grayson  county  was  named. 
He  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  San  Antonio  for  some  years. 


200      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

Capt.  Phillip  Shardein,  was  city  marshal  for  twenty-five 
years,  and  arrested  many  of  the  most  desperate  characters 
of  this  section  in  early  days.  He  was  city  recorder  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  His  wife,  recently  deceased,  was  a  niece  of  Jef- 
ferson Davis. 

Reimann  Neuman,  a  gun  and  locksmith,  still  living  in  San 
Antonio,  built  the  first  church  organ  there.  He  also  estab- 
lished the  first  rifle  range  on  Powder  House  Hill  at  the  house 
of  a  man  named  Miller.  It's  owner  died  on  the  Salado  many 
years  ago.  This  house  was  used  for  theatricals.  Indians 
several  times  chased  its  inmates  away-  The  old  house  is  still 
standing.  Neumann  was  the  president  of  the  first  rifle  club 
here  and  is  a  fine  shot.  He  later  built  many  of  the  promi- 
nent business  houses  and  dwellings    in    San    Antonio. 

The  Reverend  J.  W.  De  Vilbiss,  known  as  the  "Fighting 
Preacher,"  was  a  noted  soldier  and  Methodist  minister,  who 
lived  here  and  built  several  churches  in  and  around  San  Anto- 
nio while  he  was  not  busy  fighting  Indians.  One  of  the  city 
streets  is  named  for  him. 

Major  James  Laurence  Dial  was  a  prominent  planter  of 
earh^  days.  His  daughter  is  the  wife  of  John  R.  Shook.  She  is 
a  writer  of  merit.  Her  husband  is  the  second  oldest  member 
of  the  San  Antonio  bar.  Its  Nestor  is  Thomas  S.  Harrison,  son 
of  the  late  Thomas  Harrison,  himself  a  noted  lawyer  of  San  An- 
tonio. John  R.  Shook  is  the  father  of  the  present  county  Judge 
of  Bexar  county,  Phillip  Shook. 

Harvey  Canterbery  was  a  pioneer  business  man  of  early 
days,  as  was  Wilson  I.  Riddle,  who  was  a  merchant  and  one 
of  the  Perote  prisoners.  At  one  time  he  was  the  owner  of 
the  famous  Molino  Blanco,  or  White  Mill.  He  came  from 
Tennessee  where  he  knew  David  Crockett  when  the  latter  was 
a  congressman  before  coming  here  and  falling  in  the  i\lamo. 
He  and  Honore  Grenet  were  the  first  to  bring  pianos  here. 
Riddle's  piano  fell  into  the  hands  of  Mexican  soldiers  who 
sawed  it  in  twain.  His  widow  married  Harvey  Canterberry, 
a  former  city  assessor. 

Riddle's  daughter,  Sarah,  married  Robert  Eager,  a  mer- 
chant. She  is  the  present  custodian  of  the  Alamo  church 
in  which  she  succeeded  her  daughter,  Flo,  w^ho  retired  from 
it  when  she  became  the  wife  of  Major  Roberts  of  the  United 
army.  Mrs.  Eager's  brother,  James  Wilson  Riddle,  who  was 
a  merchant  at  Brackettville,  was  a  major  in  the  Spanish  Amer- 
ican  War  and   died   shortlv   after  it. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes     201 

When  a  child  Mrs.  Eager  had  a  very  thrilling  adventure. 
Ari  Indian  squaw  whom  her  father  traded  with  rode  by  where 
she  was,  picked  up  and  placed  the  child  on  her  horse  and  then 
rode  off  very  rapidly,  creating  Cjuite  a  panic.  After  going 
several  miles  with  her  at  full  speed  and  during  which  she  was 


PRIVATE    LEWIS    A.     MAVERICK    OF    ROOSEVELT'S    ROUGH     RIDERS    IN     EVERY    CUBAN     BATTLE    OF    SPANISH- 
AMERICAN     WAR.        IS    ONE    OF    THE    THIRD    GENERATION     OF    MAVERICK     FAMILY. 


much  frightened  the  Indian  turned  about  and  brought  her 
back  safe  and  unharmed  and  placed  her  in  her  parent's  arms, 
both  of  whom  were  rejoiced  at  her  return.  The  Indian  told 
them  she  thought  the  child  would  enjoy  a  swift  ride  with  her. 


202      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Im.mortal  Heroes 

Mrs.  Eager  was  a  beautiful  child  and  a  belle  of  early  San  An- 
tonio society.  She  is  said  to  be  the  first  x\merican  girl  born  in 
San  Antonio. 

John  Bowen,  who  owned  the  peninsula  called  "Eowen's 
Island,"  was  the  first  American  postmaster  of  San  Antonio 
and  the  first  postmaster  under  the  Texas  Republic.  He  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1801.  His  father  was  Ralph  B.  Pea- 
cock Sr.,  and  his  mother,  Marie  Steinm.etz.  Bowen  spent 
many  years  in  South  America  prior  to  settling  in  Texas,  which 
he  did  in  the  early  days  of  the  Texas  Republic.  He  was  an 
intimate  friend  of  Stephen  F.  Austin.  He  had  his  nam^e  changed 
from  Ralph  William  Peacock  to  John  Bowen  by  the  Texas 
legislature  pursuant  to  the  dying  request  of  a  half  brother, 
John  Bowen,  of  Bowen  Hall,  near  Kingston  on  the  Island  of 
Jamaica.  He  married  the  widow  of  his  brother  George  S. 
Peacock,  Mary  Elizabeth  Murphy,  after  the  death  of  his  brother, 
which  took  place  at  Lavaca  in  1848,  of  the  cholera.  John 
Bowen,  form.erly  Ralph.  W.  Peacock,  died  in  San  Antonio 
in  1867.  He  was  a  strong  Unionist  and  died  such.  During 
his  incumbency  as  postmaster  he  received  the  miunificent  sal- 
ary of  $25  per  month.  His  assistant,  who  was  Henry  Radaz, 
succeeded  him  as  postmaster  and  removed  the  post  office 
from  the  historic  old  Quinta,  which  was  Bowen's  dwelling,  to 
the  southwest  corner  of  Quinta  street  and  Dolorosa  street 
where  the  present  Court  House  is  located.  At  the  time  of 
Bowen's  incumbency  the  mail  coming  to  the  San  Antonio 
post  office  was  distributed  over  a  large  area  and  it  was  the 
only  post  office  for  many  miles  around. 

Besides  his  stepdaughter,  Mary  Peacock,  the  widow  of 
of  Dr.  J.  J.  Gaenslen,  he  left  the  following  children  all  living 
in  San  Antonio.  Cornelia,  the  widow  of  the  late  Hon.  George 
H.  Noonan,  Isabella,  the  wife  of  L.  Orynski,  Dr.  George  R. 
Bowen,  Elizabeth,  widow  of  J.  C.  Nelson,  and  Francis  J.  Bowen. 
The  wife  of  John  Bowen  died  in  1903,  his  son,  John  G.  Bowen, 
died  in  1886. 

One  of  the  distinguished  jurists  of  Texas  was  the  late 
Hon.  George  H.  Noonan.  He  was  a  native  of  Essex  County, 
New  Jersey  and  was  born  in  1827.  He  was  the  son  of  George 
Noonan  and  Margaret  Casey  Noonan  of  Limerick,  Ireland. 
He  was  a  law  student  of  the  late  John  Whitehead  of  Newark, 
N.  J.  In  1852  he  came  to  Castroville  near  which  place  he  had 
a  ranch  of  considerable  size  on  'which  he  raised  many  fine 
horses,  quite  a  number  of  which  were  stolen  by  Indians  and 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lm.mortal  Heroes      203 

other  outlaws.  He  came  to  San  Antonio  in  1868  and  although 
a  strong  Unionist  in  1,862  was  elected  district  judge  and  served 
on  the  bench  almost  continuously  under  various  phases  of 
government,  Confederate  and  Federal,  covering  the  military- 
rule  and  the  reconstruction  period.  He  held  the  district  judg- 
ship  until  1894  when  he  vacated  it  to  qualify  as  the  member 
of  congress  from  the  San  Antonio  district  and  served  a  single 
term.  He  was  married  June  23,  1875  to  Miss  Cornelia  Bowen, 
a  native  San  i\ntonian,  of  which  marriage  there  are  two  sons 
George  Brackenridge  Noonan  and  Ralph  Joseph  Noon  an, 
who,  with  his  widow,  survive  him.  Judge  Noonan  died 
in  San  Antonio  August  11,  1907,  He  was  universally  beloved 
and    popular. 

Of  the  eminent  physicians  of  the  old  shcool  of  San  Antonio 
was  Dr.  John  Jacob  Gaenslen,  who  was  born  in  New  York  and 
educated  at  Winchester,  Va.  He  was  a  member  of  the  medical 
corps  of  the  United  States  army.  He  established  a  reputation 
for  successfully  treating  the  cholera  in  the  epidemic  of  .1866, 
many  of  the  patients  treated  by  him  being  saved.  He  was 
also  a  successful  medical  practitioner  in  this  city  and  section 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death  which  occurred  in  1879  on  the 
anniversary  of  his  w^edding.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Peacock 
Bowen  in  1868.  She  survives  him  as  do  four  children,  Freder- 
ick B.,  Mary  Cornelia,  now  Mrs.  Hermann  Wagenfehr,  George 
Ralph  and  Mary  Elizabeth  Gaenslen. 

Dr.  C.  E.  R.  King,  next  to  Dr.  Ferdinand  Herff,  Sr.,  is  the 
oldest  practicing  physician  of  San  Antonio.  He  has  been  in 
that  city  for  fully  a  half  century.  He  is  an  Englishman  who 
first  came  to  New  Orleans  where  he  went  through  several 
yellow  fever  epidemics  before  coming  to  Texas  and  has  also  been 
through  two  of  the  cholera  epidemics.  He  is  a  very  prominent 
member  of  the  Texas  Medical  Association,  is  an  excellent  after- 
dinner  speaker  and  always  delivers  entertaining  addresses 
at   its   annual   banquets. 

Dr.  Ralph  L.  Graves,  some  time  deceased,  was  another 
old  time  physician  who  served  as  county  and  city  physician 
in  San  Antonio  and  Bexar  County  for  a  number  of  years  and 
until  shortly  before  his  death.  He  was  also  a  very  prominent 
politician  and  had  two  very  narrow  escapes  from  death.  In 
the  first,  when  the  court  house  then  on  Soledad  street  was  in 
course  of  construction,  and  he  was  leaning  back  against  a  loose 
post,  his  chair  tilted  over,  precipitating  him  to  the  street  below. 
At  that  time  he  and  quite  a  number  of  others  were  attending 


204      Combats  and  Conquests  of  ImiMortal  Heroes 

a  political  meeting  in  this  unfinished  structure.  Alex  Sweet 
then  perpetrated  at  the  doctor's  expense  the  joke  that  the 
doctor  had  fallen  out  of  the  Democratic  party,  but  the  doctor 
got  back  at  Alex  by  telling  him  that  Alex  was  not  heavy  enough 
to  fall  into  the  Democratic  fold.  Dr.  Graves's  second  narrow 
escape  from  death  was  while  driving  his  horse  through  the 
ford  of  the  river  below  the  Lewis  mill  when  a  huge  wave  came 
down  it  sweeping  the  physician,  his  horse  and  buggy 
swiftly  down  the  stream  a  considerable  distance,  but  he  was 
rescued  by  daring  men  with  strong  ropes,  which  they  entwined 
about  the  horse  and  vehicle  and  drew  them  ashore.  His  son, 
Everett,  is  a  well  known  civil  engineer  in  San  Antonio. 

Dr.  Amos  Graves,  Sr.,  is  another  of  the  veteran  physicians 
and  skilful  surgeons  of  San  Antonio,  who  is  still  very  much 
engaged  in  the  medical  practice.  He  has  been  in  the  city 
of  San  Antonio  over  a  generation  and  prior  to  coming  here 
from  Mississippi  attended  many  cases  of  genuine  yellow  fever 
and  cholera. 

One  of  Texas's  and  San  Antonio's  most  brilliant,  brainy 
and  lovable  men  was  the  late  Hon.  Columbus  Upson.  He 
was  a  gifted  orator,  whose  voice  thrilled  many  audiences  on 
different  occasions  on  the  hustings  in  the  courts,  and  the  halls 
of  congress.  He  was  born  in  (Jnondaga  County  New  York, 
October  17,  1829,  educated  in  Williams  College,  Massachusetts, 
and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Syracuse,  in  1851,  coming  to  Texas 
in  1854.  In  that  year  he  landed  at  Galveston  and  went  thence 
to  Austin.  He  accompanied,  as  the  guest  of  its  owner,  a  wagon 
train  carrying  merchandise  from  San  Antonio  to  El  Paso. 
When  one  of  the  teamsters  deserted  where  no  substitute 
could  be  obtained  he  pluckily  volunteered  to  take  the 
deserter's  place  and  drove  its  ox  team  a  distance  of  70!) 
miles. 

He  was  a  brave  Confederate  soldier,  who  at  the  battle 
of  Gains'  Mill  saw  a  wounded  Federal  soldier  lying  on  the 
field,  suft'ering  great  pain.  Upson  dismounted  and  asked 
him  if  there  was  something  he  could  do  for  him.  The  sufferer 
complained  most  of  a  wound  in  his  shoulder  although  wounded 
in  several  other  places,  so  Upson  bandaged  it,  thus 
stopping  the  flow  of  blood.  He  also  placed  his  own  blanket 
under  the  wounded  man's  head,  filled  his  own  and  the  latter 's 
canteens  with  water  and  left  them,  as  he  had  to  leave  him. 
At  that  time  Upson's  horse  was  killed  and  he  had 
to  walk  oft'    the    field    under    fire     from    both      bellio^erents. 


Combats  and  Conqi^ests  of  Immortal  Heroes      205 


r 


TEXANS    OX    THE     T  l<  A  1 1. 


206      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

The  wounded  man  was  Major  Chambliss,  who  lay  in  great 
pain  on  the  field  for  ten  days,  where  he  was  finally  found  by 
a  friendly  negro,  who  took  him  into  Richmond  where  he  was 
sent  to  the  hospital  and  later  exchanged.  Chambliss'  wounds 
were  so  severe  as  to  incapacitate  him  from  further  service 
and    he    resigned. 

One  day  while  Upson  was  a  member  of  the  Forty-Seventh 
congress.  Congressman  Steele  introduced  a  bill  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  to  restore  Major  Chambliss  to  the  army 
and  immediately  retire  him  with  the  rank  of  major.  Steele, 
in  his  address  introducing  the  bill,  narrated  the  circumstance 
of  Chambliss  being  succored  by  an  unknown  Confederate,  where- 
upon Upson  arose  and  stated  he  was  the  Samaritan.  Cham- 
bliss, who  was  in  Washington,  was  sent  for  and  immediately 
recognized  Upson  as  such.  The  bill  was  passed  in  the  House, 
but  lost  in  the  Senate.  He  held  the  rank  of  Colonel  in  the 
Confederate  army  and  was  aide  to  General  W.  H.  C.  Whiting, 
serving  until  the  end  of  the  seven  days  battle  before  Richmond 
when  his  health  became  so  shattered  he  had  to  be  sent  to  Texas, 
being  entrusted  with  important  ofiicial  dispatches.  He  was 
frequently  complimented  in  general  orders  for  personal  bravery 
on  the  battle  fields  and  gallantry  in  action.  To  him  was  en- 
trusted the  mission  of  running  the  blockade  and  bringing  $20,- 
000,000  of  bonds  of  the  Confederacy  to  Texas.  Learning 
that  this  mission  if  undertaken  by  water  route,  would  be  fruit- 
less, he  traveled  the  entire  distance  between  Richmond  Va., 
and  San  Antonio  on  horseback,  leaving  the  first  named  city 
the  night  before  it  fell  finally  into  the  hands  of  the  Federals. 
For  every  object  pertaining  to  the  Southern  Confederacy 
he  had  the  utmost  affection.  His  greatest  masterpiece  of 
oratory,  uttered  shortly  before  his  death,  was  the  address  de- 
livered by  him  on  the  occasion  of  the  dedication  of  the  Con- 
federate monument   in  Travis  park  at   San  Antonio. 

He  married  Miss  Martha  D.  Vance  December  27,  1865. 
She,  together  with  his  two  sons  James  V.  and  George  Upson 
and  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Lee  Upson  Palfrey,  survive  him.  He 
died  February  8th,  1902,  writing,  shortly  before  his  death  and 
placing  them  in  a  sealed  envelope  with  a  friend  whom  he  re- 
quested that  these  lines  that  follow  be  inscribed  on  his  casket, 
as  well  as  the  epitaph  for  his  monument: 

Exit:  "To  the  World  of  Rest  and  Tranquility,  where 
God  Reigns,  and  Neither  Pain  nor  Sorrow  Ever  Enters." 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      207 

One  of  the  very  prominent  of  the  old  German  families 
of  San  Antonio  is  that  headed  by  the  late  William  Heuermann, 
who  was  one  of  the  partners  of  the  former  firm  of  Hugo  & 
Schmeltzer,  which  for  some  years  and  from  the  time  it  passed 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  estate  of  Honore  Grenet  until  it  be- 
came the  property  of  the  State,  owned  the  monastery,  or  most 
important  portion  of  the  Alamo  or  Mission  of  San  Antonio 
de  Valero.  William  Heuermann  is  survived  by  several  sons, 
George  and  Louis,  msmbers  of  the  Belknap  Rifles  organization, 
and    William. 

One  of  the  old-time  physicians  was  the  late  Dr.  Thomas 
T.  Vander  Hoven,  who  was  a  prominent  practitioner  and 
is  survived  by  a  son,  Thomas  T.  Vander  Hoven,  partner  of 
John  R.  Shook,  and  brother-in-law  of  Phillip  H.  Shook. 

One  of  the  very  prominent  German  families  is  the  Steves 
family,  whose  head  was  the  late  Edward  Steves  Sr. ,  whose  widow 
and  sons,  Albert  and  Ernest  survive  him  and  are  prominent 
lumbermen.  His  other  son  and  namesake  was  former  city 
collector,  whose  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  John  Martin,  Sr., 
and  whose  second  was  the  widow  of  the  later  Dr.  Trexler. 

Dr.  Phineas  Lounsberry,  who  formerly  kept  the  St-  Leonard 
Hotel  and  Isaac  N-  Baker,  father  of  I.  Charles  Baker,  who  was 
the  Boniface  of  the  old  Central  Hotel,  the  first  place  that  I 
stopped  at  when  I  came  to  San  Antonio,  and  the  late  Edward 
Braden,  were  three  of  the  early  day  hotelkeepers  and  a  fourth 
was  Schmitt,  whose  hotel  was  where  Duerler's  wholesale  con- 
fectionary is  now. 

Carl  Hilmer  Guenther  was  a  pioneer  miller,  who  came 
to  Fredericksburg  in  1848  and  built  a  mill  there  on  Live  Oak 
River,  but  never  got  water  enough  to  turn  its  wheels.  He 
went  to  San  Antonio  and  found  there  an  abundance  of  water, 
so  he  built  two  of  the  early  mills  there.  The  upper  mill,  which 
was  located  at  the  crossing  at  Arsenal  street,  had  an  under- 
shot wooden  wheel  and  for  many  years  was  used  for  grind- 
ing corn.  Recently  the  wheel  was  removed  and  the  estab- 
lishment used  for  making  macaroni  by  a  company  headed  by 
Edward  Dreiss.  The  lower  mill  was  the  one  at  which  the 
first  wheat  ground  in  San  Antonio  was  milled.  As  the  water 
power  diminished  with  the  inroads  on  the  source  of  supply 
by  the  Waterworks  artesian  wells  that  have  sapped  and  nearly 
run  the  river  dry,  steam  was  introduced  to  augment  the  power 
sufficiently.  Carl  Hilmer  Guenther,  who  was  a  native  of  Wiesen- 
fels,  Germany,  is  survived  by  his  sons,  Arthur  W.  Guenther, 


208      Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Lmaiortal  Heroes 

Hilmer  L.  Guenther,  Carl  F.  Guenther  and  Erhard  Guenther, 
all  of  them,  like  their  father,  are  millers  and  one  of  them,  Hilmer, 
is  a  manufacturer  of  ice. 

Warwick  Tunstall  was  an  attorney  of  early  days,  who 
owned  the  property  on  wiiich  was  located  the  famous  Molino 
Blanco  on  the  San  Antonio  River  near  the  old  Abbatt  crossing. 
It  was  from  this  point  that  Milam  and  his  brave  band  marched 
on  and  captured  San  Antonio  from  the  Mexicans  under  Santa 
Anna's  brother-in-law,  Cos.  Warwick  Tunstall's  daughter, 
Mrs-  Henry  P.  Drought,  resides  in  a  new  and  elegant  home, 
not  far  from  this  spot,  the  Molino  Blanco  having  been  on  the 
old  Story  place.  The  old  home  of  her  mother  nearby  is  shown 
in  another  place.  This  latter  home  was  sold  not  long  ago  and 
is  soon  to  be  demolished  to  give  way  to  a  more  modern  structure. 
Warwick  Tunstall's  widow,  Mrs.  Florida  Tunstall,  and  his 
daughters,  Mrs.  H.  P.  Drought  and  Mrs.  Lockwood,  survive 
him. 

Geo.  DuUnig  was  a  merchant,  banker  and  railway  builder, 
who  was  a  very  distinguished  citizen.  Capt.  George  Davis, 
himself  and  the  late  Governor,  John  Ireland,  built  the  old 
Gulf  Shore  Railway  now  owned  by  the  Southern  Pacific  and 
running  to  Port  Lavaca  by  connecting  at  Cuero  with  the 
old  "Macaroni"  road.  He  owned  an  immense  establishment 
at  the  corner  of  Commerce  and  vSouth  Alamo  streets  and  a 
magnificent  ranch  seven  miles  south  of  San  Antonio,  on  which 
there  are  eleven  wells,  each  with  a  different  quality  of  mineral 
water.  One  of  these  wells  flows  the  finest  and  best  medicinal 
thermal  w^ater  in  the  country.  He  was  the  first  to  strike  natural 
gas  in  sufficient  quantity  on  one  of  his  wells  to  utilize  it.  It 
serves  the  purpose  of  lighting,  heating  and  for  cooking  at  this 
ranch.     Mr.   Dullnig  died  here  several  years  ago. 

John  and  Christian  Dullnig,  members  of  the  same  family, 
are  merchants  here  now. 

James  Fisk,  former  sheriff,  and  son-in-law  of  Deaf  Smith, 
was  a  well  known  officer  of  olden  days.  His  son  and  name- 
sake, also  deceased,  was  a  lawyer.  There  survive  him  a  son, 
Ben,  who  is  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  three  daughters,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Roach,  widow  of  the  late  Major  Roach,  Mrs.  W.  C.  Kroe- 
ger,  and  Mrs.  Broadbent.  Erasmus,  or  "Deaf"  Smith,  lived 
in  San  Antonio  at  the  corner  of  Presa  and  Arceniega  streets, 
his  dwelling  remaining  there  very  much  as  it  was  originally 
built  and  is  occupied  by  his  grand  daughter,  Mrs.  Roach-  She 
also  has  some  antique  rosewood  furniture   that  belonged  to 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      209 

the  late  Congressman,  Gustav  Schleicher.  "Deaf"  Smith's 
house  is  not  far  from  that  occupied  by  General  Cos,  in  La 
Villita,  when  Cos  surrendered  to  Milam's  men. 

William  A.  Howell,  who  is  one  of  the  quaint  and  veteran 
inhabitants  of  the  Sunset  City,  is  an  ancient  actor,who  played 
with  Edward,  Junius  and  John  Wilkes  Booth,  Edwin  Forrest, 
Southern,  McCready,  Charlotte  Cushman,  Mrs.  Chanfrau, 
Barrett,  and  most  of  the  eminent  actors  of  early  days  in  Balti- 
more, Washington,  New  York  and  other  cities  and  is  probably 


tt:*/.    ^t?:„ 


^y^tetmsi^ 


guenther's  lower  mill,  sninsixG  u.\dei;sh(jt  whkki. 


the  last  of  that  old  school  of  actors.  He  looks  much  like  John 
Wilkes  Booth,  for  whom  he  has  frequently  been  taken.  He 
had  one  of  his  legs  broken  and  limps.  This  gave  rise  to  an 
unfounded  story  that  he  is  John  Wilkes,  although  the  kitter, 
really  killed  not  long  after  slaying  President  Lincoln,  was  yet 
alive  in  the  person  of  Howell.  He  often  laughs  over  the  story 
now,  although  it  caused  great  annoyance  and  put  him  in  peril. 
For  some  time  after  the  story  started,  numerous  government 
secret  service  men  were  on  his  trail  for  quite  a  while.  What  com- 
plicated matters  was  that  he  and  John  Wilkes  Booth  had  been 


210         CoMliATS    AND    COXQUESTS    OF    I.MMORTAL    HeROES 

room  mates  and  were  boon  companions,  their  calling  associating 
them  very  closely.  This  caused  each  frequently  to  be  mis- 
taken for  the  other  prior  to  the  terrible  tragedy  that  ended 
Lincoln's  life.  It  caused  Howell  to  go  into  exile  on  a  farm 
and  quit  the  stage  for  several  years  after  the  death  of  Lincoln. 

John  C.  Crawford,  who  was  a  former  sheriff  and  justice 
of  the  peace  lived  near  the  confluence  of  the  San  Antonio  and 
Medina  Rivers  on  a  ranch  that  was  until  recently  well  stocked 
with  deer.  He  married  Miss  Garza,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the 
Canary  Island  settlers,  who  was  a  sister  to  James  L.  Trueheart 
and  of  Bart  De  Witt,  Sr. 

The  latter,  who  was  a  surveyor,  died  suddenly  while  in 
the  field  making  a  survey.  He  was  the  father  of  Bart  De 
Witt,  Jr.,  and  owned  the  property  at  the  corner  of  Houston 
Street  and  the  river  and  running  along  that  stream  and  St. 
Mary's  street  to  and  including  the  old  house  in  which  Lee  and 
Albert  Sydney  Johnston  lived.  His  son  was  former  county 
and  assistant  city  attorney.  His  daughter  is  the  wife  of  Fran- 
cois   De    Hymel. 

Franklin  L.  Paschal  was  a  Georgian  and  a  Texas  Veteran 
of  1832.  He  was  a  lieutenant  of  the  Georgia  company  sent 
out  to  avenge  the  massacre  of  the  Georgia  battalion  at  Goliad. 
He  joined  Jack  Hays'  company  of  scouts.  While  performing  that 
duty  with  it  he  was  severely  wounded.  In  1846  he  was  sheriff 
of  Bexar  County  and  also  served  in  several  San  Antonio  muni- 
cipal offices.  At  Charleston,  S.  C,  he  married  Miss  Frances 
Roach,  a  lady  of  extremely  high  intellectual  attainments  and 
whose  ancestry  extended  back  to  the  McGreggors,  of  Scottish 
fame.  To  them  six  children  were  born:  Ann,  George,  Frank, 
Mary,  Augustus  and  Ernest,  George  Paschal  was  a  prominent 
lawyer.  He  was  district  attorney  and  Mayor  of  San  Antonio. 
During  his  regime  the  splendid  sewer  system  of  the  city  was 
constructed,  the  citizens  voting  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $500, 
000  for  their  construction.  His  administration  thus  made 
this  city  not  only  progressive,  but  sanitary. 

Dr.  Frank  Paschal,  another  son,  is  the  only  surviving 
member  of  this  branch  of  the  Paschals.  He  is  prominent  in 
his  profession,  having  received  the  highest  honors  in  its  gift, 
not  only  in  San  Antonio,  but  in  the  state,  He  is  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  upbuilding  of  his  native  city  and  takes  a  prominent 
part  in  public  affairs.  He  alone  perpetuates  his  father's  name 
as  the  other  male  members  left  no  issue.  He  has  five  living 
children:   Edwin,   Nellie.    Bettie,   Frank  and  George. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      211 

I.  A.  Paschal  was  another  prominent  San  Antonian  and 
an  able  lawyer  and  George  H.  Paschal  was  another  and  an 
emment  one,  the  author  of  Paschal's  Digest  of  the  Decisions 
of  the  Texas   Supreme  Court. 

Mrs.  Bettie  Paschal,  a  widow,  was  also  well  known 
and  was  a  Samaritan  who  was  always  found  where  there  was 
sickness    and    sorrow. 

Thomas  A.  Paschal,  who  was  formerly  congressman  of 
this  district  and  his  brother  Emmet  Paschal,  are  members 
of  the  Paschal  family  living  in  San  Antonio. 

Ridge  Paschal,  deceased,  was  a  picturesque  character  and 
also  a  member  of  one  of  the  branches  of  the  Paschal  family. 

Two  San  Antonio  celebrities  are  A.  Toepperwein  and  his 
wife.  Both  of  them  are  crack  shots  with  either  the  rifle, 
shotgun,  or  pistol.  They  have  given  exhibitions  all  over  the 
United  States  which  have  been  witnessed  by  many  thousands 
of  people  and  were  both  conspicuous  at  the  St.  Louis  World's 
Fair.  Toepperwein 's  feats  of  marksmanship  at  moving 
targets  are  marvelous.  On  thirteen  different  occasions  he 
has  broken  the  world's  record  while  shooting  at  flying  tar- 
gets. Perhaps  his  greatest  feat  and  score  was  when  shooting 
for  ten  consecutive  days,  seventy-three  hours,  during  which 
he  shot  at  72,500  wooden  targets  and  only  missed  nine  out 
of  the  entire  number.  He  hit  14,561  consecutively  with- 
out a  miss.  On  another  occasion  he  only  missed  4  shots  out 
of  a  total  of  50,000.  He  has  made  the  best  scores  ever  made 
with  rifle  or  shotgun,  but  some  times  and  especially  with  the 
shotgun  his  wife  defeats  him  in  some  of  the  matches  in  the 
field.     She  is  the  champion  woman  shot  of  the  world. 

Francois  Giraud  was  a  mayor  of  San  Antonio  and  also 
an  architect  and  civil  engineer.  He  planned  the  method  of 
the  restoration  of  the  San  Fernando  Cathedral  after  the  front 
portion  bad  been  destroyed  by  fire,  but  his  plans  were 
lost  and  those  of  another  substituted  for  them  when  the  sacred 
structure  was  restored.  His  widow,  the  late  Mrs.  Apollinaria 
Giraud  was  the  former  widow  of  Antoine  Lockmar  and  was 
one  of  the  original  Canary  Island  settlers.  While  she  was 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Lockmar,  they  occupied  the  famous  old  Vera- 
mendi  Palace  and  this  family  was  among  the  last  to  use  it 
as  a  private  residence  before  it  was  entirely  given  over  to  com- 
mercialism. When  a  youth,  Lockmar  was  captured  by  Indians 
but  escaped  to  the  settlement  of  Dolores,  in  Kinney  County 
near  where  Brackettville  now  is  and  ultimately  got  back  to 


212      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

San  Antonio.  While  the  Lockmar  family  lived  in  the  Vera- 
mendi  several  children  were  born  there,  among  them  Mrs. 
George  W.  Angle,  Mrs.  A.  Raphall,  of  San  Antonio  and  Mrs. 
Louis  Leon,   of  Bilboa,   Spain. 

Dr.  Schleyman  was  an  eminent  physician,  who  was  an 
early  settler.  He  was  a  great  botanist  and  entomologist  as 
well  as  a  successful  medical  practitioner.  He  was  prominent 
during  the  cholera  epidemic  of  1848. 

The  pioneer  apothecary  and  druggist  was  the  late  August 
Nette  Sr.,who  had  a  drug  store  on  Commerce  street.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  and  namesake  since  deceased 

Frederick  Kalteyer  was  another  pioneer  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness. He  came  to  Texas  from  New  Orleans  and  established 
later  the  Eagle  Drug  Store  on  Military  Plaza,  where,  after  his 
death  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  George  H.  Kalteyer,  a  form- 
er alderman  and  very  prominent  and  public  spirited  citizen, 
founder  of  the  Alamo  Cement  Company.  One  of  Frederick 
Kalteyer's  daughters  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Adolph  Herff  and  another 
is  Mrs.  George  Altgelt.  George  Kalteyer's  son,  the  namesake 
of  his  grandfather.  Dr.  Frederick  Kalteyer,  is  a  very  prominent 
Philadelphia  physician.  One  of  the  late  George  Kalteyer's 
daughters,  Minna,  married  Frederick  W.  Cook,  head  of  the 
largest  wholesale  drug  establishment  in  the  state  and  president 
of  the  San  Antonio  Chamber  of  Commerce.  His  other  daughter, 
Stella  married  Mr.  Probst  and  resides  in  Germany.  George  H. 
Kalteyer's  widow,  resides  part  of  the  time  with  her  and  part  of 
it  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Cook.  William  C.  Kalteyer,  a  cousin 
is    also    a   prominent    San    Antonio    druggist. 

Albert  Dreiss  was  another  of  the  San  Antonio  pioneer 
druggists,  whose  establishment  in  which  he  was  joined  by  his 
son  Adolph  in  1S68,  was  located  on  Alamo  Street  of  which 
later  his  son,  Edward,  became  a  member,  this  business  being 
now  conducted  by  Herman,  the  son  of  i\dolph  Dreiss.  Ed- 
ward Dreiss  is  now  the  head  of  the  San  Antonio  Macaroni 
Factory. 

The  colony  of  Spaniards  who  came  out  from  the  Canary 
Islands,  arriving  in  the  year  1731,  embraced  thirteen  different 
families  and  fifty- six  different  persons.  They  settled  in  and 
around  the  then  hamlets  of  San  Antonio  de  Bexar,  the  Mission 
San  Antonio  de  Valero  and  the  village  of  La  Villita,  some  of 
of  them  going  as  far  as  the  Medina  River  southward  and  some 
located  within  the  shadows  and  near  the  shelter  of  the  different 
missions  below  San  Antonio  and  along  the  river.     The  colonists 


CARL   HII.MER  GU  ENTH  EK,;PION  EER  MILLER 


214      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

included  two  families  named  Leal,  one  of  these,  their  mother, 
was  Donna  Francesca  Arocha.  Her  sons  were  Juan  Leal, 
Vicente,  Alvarez,  Francisco  and  Santos.  While  the  mother 
of  the  other  Leal  family  was  Josef  a  Caberera,  Juan  Curbelo 
and  Manuel  Juan  Leal  Jr.,  being  her  sons.  The  heads  of 
both  Leal  families  being  named  Juan  Leal,  Sr. 

Another  w^as  the  family  of  Salvador  Rodriguez  and  in 
addition  to  his  were  the  families  of  Garcia,  Garza.  Felipe  Perez, 
Juan  Delgado.  There  were  four  brothers  of  the  Armas  family, 
Jose,  Antonio,  Martin  Lorenzo,  and  Ygnacio  Armas, all  single 
men  at  the  time  of  their  arrival  and  who  found  lodgings  about 
the  Military  Plaza,  some  people  ascribing  the  name  Plaza 
de  las  Armas  given  to  that  Plaza  to  that  fact,  but  it  took  its 
name  from  the  circumstance  of  it  being  the  military  seat 
of  the  city  and  province.  There  were  also  three  widows  among 
the  Canary  Island  settlers  who  were  Josefa  de  Padron,  Maria 
Robina  de  Betancourt,  whose  maiden  name  was  Rodriguez  and 
the  widow  Maria  Meliano.  These  colonists  all  came  by  way  of 
Mexico  from  Spain  and  did  not  receive  horses  until  they  reached 
Saltillo.  At  that  point  they  also  received  mules,  oxen  and 
provisions  which  were  exhausted  as  were  themselves  and  their 
animals  when  they  reached  San  Antonio,  beyond  which  they 
could  not    have   gone   further   had    they    desired. 

The  Spanish  crown  gave  them  liberal  grants  of  land  and 
it  was  they,  emulating  the  example  of  the  Franciscan  friars, 
who  had  preceeded  them  and  founded  the  missions,  dug  ditches 
and  tilled  the  soil  which  they  irrigated  with  the  waters  of  the 
two  principal  streams,  the  San  Antonio  and  San  Pedro.  When 
they  arrived,  these  Canary  Islanders  had  eighty-six  horses, 
seventy-seven  mules  and  thirty- eight  oxen.  They  planted 
grain,  vegetables,  fruits,  flowers  and  cotton  and  made  this 
vicinity    look    like    an    Eden. 

It  is  a  fact  not  generally  appreciated  that  irrigation  was 
first  practiced  in  Texas  in  and  about  San  Antonio  and  on  a 
scale  much  larger  than  it  is  now.  The  many  irrigation  ditches 
opened  by  the  friars  and  colonists  then  flowed  the  purest  and 
clearest  of  water,  but  since  then  the  source  of  flow  of  the  water 
has  been  sapped  by  sinking  artesian  wells  by  the  water  cor- 
poration, the  ditches,  by  order  of  the  board  of  health  have 
been  filled  up  and  irrigation  is  but  little  practiced  and  much 
less  appreciated  than  it  was  two  centuries  ago,  in  which  re- 
pects  the  vicinity   has  greatly  retrograded. 


Combats  and  Coxouests  of  Lmmortal  Heroes      215 

In  those  days  it  was  the  water  that  was  valuable  and  the 
water  rights  were  sold  instead  of  the  land,  which  was  valuable 
only  in  so  far  as  it  possessed  irrigation  privileges. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  San  Antonio  were  four  brothers, 
Milesians,  who  were  interesting  members  of  the  community. 
They  were  John,  James,  Edward  and  x'\ndrew  Stevens,  who 
came  here  from  Tipperary,  Ireland,  in  1848.  Prior  to  coming 
here  John  had  lived  for  a  time  in  New  York,  where  he  had 
been  employed  as  a  clerk  by  General  Longstreet,  afterward 
of  Confederate  fame,  but  at  that  time  a  United  States  army 
officer  with  whom,  during  the  Mexican  war,  Stevens  came  to 
Texas.  Their  friendship  lasted  during  life,  both  passing  away 
within  short  periods  of  each  other,  only  a  few  days  elapsing 
between  their  respective  deaths.  John  Stevens,  Sr.,  is  survived 
by  his  sons,  John  J.  Stevens,  present  postmaster  of  San  Antonio, 
intimately  identified  with  the  constrtiction  to  San  Antonio 
of  the  Galveston  Harrisburg  and  San  Antonio,  now  the  South- 
ern Pacific  Railway,  the  Waterworks  and  City  Brewery  as  well 
as  other  public  enterprises,  and  his  other  sons  Andrew  and 
Thomas  Stevens  and  his  daughters,  Mrs  Annie,  wife  of  A. 
I.  Lockwood  Jr.,  and  Mrs.  Julia  Newm^an.  His  other  daughters 
were  Mrs.  Mary  Lockwood,  deceased  wife  of  ex-mayor  A.  I. 
Lockwood,  Sr.,  Mrs.  Lizzie  McCormick,  widow  of  Harry  Mc- 
Cormick,  a  former  prominent  member  of  the  San  Antonio 
bar,   and  Mrs.   Maggie  Evarts. 

John  Stevens,  Sr.,  and  his  brother  James  married  sisters, 
the  former  wedding  Miss  Mary  and  the  latter  Miss  Bridgett 
McDermott.  Mrs.  John  Stevens  died  in  May  1902  and  her 
husband  survived  her  but  a  few  weeks.  His  brothers  died  at 
different  intervals  during  previous  years. 

Edward  and  Andrew  Stevens,  Sr.,  were  both  bachelors. 
James  Stevens  is  survived  by  his  son  and  namesake  James 
Stevens,  Jr.  John  A.  Stevens,  Mrs.  Horace  Daniels  and  Mrs. 
Magner.  Until  the  summer  of  1907  Mrs.  James  Stevens  enjoyed 
the  unique  distinction  of  never  having  ridden  on  a  railway 
train.  She  came  from  Europe  on  a  sailing  vessel,  landed  at 
Indianola  and  traveled  thence  here  by  means  of  an  ox  wagon. 
She  was  a  very  young  girl  at  the  time  of  her  arrival  and  never 
left  San  Antonio  until  she  took  a  trip  to  Kerrville  in  the  sum- 
mer of   1907. 

Andrew  Stevens,  who  was  considered  a  very  (piaint  and 
witty  specimen  of  the  Irish  race,  for  many  years  was  wagon 
master  for    the    United  States    s^overnment.      He    wns    with 


216      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

General  Shafter  when  the  latter  was  a  subaltern  and  Shafter's 
command  was  surrounded  by  Indians,  who  were  attempting 
to  stampede  the  mules  of  the  train.  This  Andrew  prevented 
by  coolness  and  courage,  fighting  the  Indians  at  close  range 
with  his  revolver  and  making  every  one  of  its  shots  count. 

\V.  A.  Bennett  and  James  T.  Thornton  were  two  of  the 
early  bankers  of  San  Antonio,  their  first  banking  institution 
having  been  located  where  Critzer  Brothers'  estalishment  now 
is.  Later  they  moved  to  the  Southwest  corner  of  Commerce 
and  Yturri  streets  where  their  firm  became  Bennett,  Thornton 
&  Lockwood,   J.   S.,   Lockwood  being  admitted  into  it    then. 

Mrs.  Bettie  Stevens  is  the  daughter  of  the  late  James 
T.  Thornton.     She  is  the  wife  of  the  present  postmaster. 

Surviving  W.  A.  Bennett  is  his  son,  Sam  W.  Bennett,  a 
prominent  banker  and  society  man,  and  his  daughter,  Bettie, 
who  was  the  widow  of  Charles  Porter,  but  is  now  the  wife  of  the 
railway  magnate  Col.  B.  F.  Yoakum.  The  old  Bennett  home 
is  on  Nueva  street  between  Dwyer  avenue  and  South  Flores 
Street  and  is  one  of  the  old  time  palatial  residences. 

The  Menger  family  is  another  of  the  interesting  old  German 
stock,  who  came  to  Texas  at  a  fairly  early  period.  William 
A.  Menger  was  the  most  conspicuous,  from  the  fact  of  his  having 
built  the  Menger  Hotel,  but  not  with  the  idea  when  doing  so 
of  erecting  a  hostelry.  It  was  first  a  brewery  and  the  only 
brewery  anywhere  within  a  radius  of  many  hundreds  of  miles. 
It  attracted  so  many  persons  to  patronize  it  that  Menger  had 
to  build  additions  to  his  brewery  in  order  to  shelter  and  ac- 
comodate them.  It  was  in  this  way  that  he  had  the  hotel 
business  thrust  upon  him.  He  built  first  a  small  two-story 
structure  for  his  hotel,  but  had  to  increase  the  size  and  height 
and  died  during  the  enlargement  that  was  carried  out  by  his 
widow.  Menger's  beer  was  famous.  Charles  Degen  was  his 
brewer.  After  Menger's  death  the  brewery  business  in  con- 
nection with  the  hotel  establishment  was  abandoned.  Degen 
then  established  another  a  short  distance  east  on  Blum  Street 
which  is  now  conducted  by  himself  and  his  son,  Louis,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  Belknap  infantry  company  during  the 
Spanish-American  war.  W.  A.  Menger's  son,  L.  W.  Menger, 
is  the  principal  proprietor  of  the  Catholic  paper,  the  Southern 
Messenger  and  was  for  many  years  the  clerk  of  the  Menger 
Hotel.  Simon  Menger,  Erich  Menger  and  Dr.  Rudolph 
Menger  are  relatives  of  the  late  W.  A.  Menger.  Dr.  Rudolph 
Menger,  who  is  a  celebrated  scientist,  his  specialty  being  natural 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes      217 

science   and   reptology   particularly,   was   for   some   time   city 
physician. 

John  C.  French,  who  owned  the  French  building  at  the 
Southeast  corner  of  Dolorosa  and  Dwyer  Avenue,  was  a  well 
known  capitalist.  James  H.  French,  who  was  the  best  mayor 
San  Antonio  ever  had  and  who  made  more  improvements  and 
built  more  bridges  than  any  mayor  with  less  money,  was  a  well 


FORMER    GUKNTHKK    Ufl'ER    MILL 


known  merchant  and  a  man  of  splendid  physique  and  of  great 
dignity.  He  was  very  handsome  and  of  distinguished  appearance. 
He  was  mayor  for  nearly  two  decades,  being  generally  elected 
without  opposition.  His  widow  survives  him,  as  does  a  son, 
Junius  French,  a  Presbyterian  minister  now  located  at  Ft. 
Worth.  Mrs.  James  H.  French  is  an  entertaining  writer, 
her  themes  generally  being  historic. 


218      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

The  late  James  B.  Sweet,  formerly  a  mayor  of  San  Antonio, 
and  father  of  Alex  S.  Sweet  the  humorist,  was  a  very  disting- 
uished citizen.  He  built  the  magnificent  house  at  the  head  of 
the  San  Antonio  River  owned  by  George  W.  Brackenridge, 
at  which  I  was  a  guest  shortly  after  my  arrival. 

Hiram  McLane  was  a  pioneer  living  just  above  the  head 
of  the  San  Antonio  River.  He  was  the  owner  of  a  genuine 
Stradivarius  violin  that  was  stolen  from  him  and  was  never 
recovered. 

Juan  Antonio  Chavez,  residing  on  Obraje  Street,  is  a  native 
who  as  a  child  lived  here  with  his  parents  when  the  Alamo  was 
besieged.  They  fled  with  him  to  their  Calaveras  ranch,  where 
they  remained  until  the  siege  was  over.  He  returned  in  time 
to  witness  the  burning  of  the  bodies  of  the  victims  which 
circumstance  he  well  remembers,  although  he  was  quite  young. 
He  also  remembers  the  entrance  into  San  Antonio  of  Milam's 
men  w^hen  they  captured  San  Antonio  from  the  Mexicans. 
The  home  he  then  lived  in  at  the  corner  of  Obraje  and  North  Flo- 
res  Street,  down  which  a  portion  of  the  attacking  force  came, 
was  riddled  with  shot,  the  marks  of  w^hich  it  bore  for  many 
3'-ears,  as  do  the  rear  doors  of  the  old  Garza  building. 

Colonel  Henry  Percy  Brewster  was  a  prominent  lawyer  of 
San  Antonio.  He  was,  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Commissioner  of 
Insurance,  statistics  and  history  at  Austin,  and  in  accordance 
with  his  last  wish,  his  remains  were  taken  to  Galveston,  placed 
on  board  a  vessel  and  carried  out  to  sea,  where  they  were 
weighted  with  a  heavy  cannon  shot  and  sunk.  He  has  rela- 
tives residing  here  now,  one  of  them  a  daughter. 

Julius  Schuetze  was  a  very  brilliant  German  writer,  who 
established  the  Texas  Vorwaerts,  first  published  here  and 
later  at  Austin.  He  was  one  of  the  principal  founders,  and 
up  to  his  death  the  head  of  the  German  Order  of  Herman 
Sons.  He  was  a  member  of  a  colony  that  was  founded  by  the 
late  Baron  Von  Meusebach,  then  located  on  the  Llano  River 
near  the  town  of  Llano  but  had  to  relinquish  their  residence 
there  on  account  of  the  hostile  Indians. 

Theodore  Schleuning  was  a  pioneer  German  merchant  who 
was  a  member  of  the  same  colony.  He  had  a  store  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  Commerce  Street  and  Military  Plaza. 

Colonel  Charles  L.  Pyron  was  a  commander  of  a  regiment 
of  Confederate  cavalry  which  served  throughout  the  Civil 
War.  He  owned  a  fine  ranch  on  the  San  Antonio  River  not 
far  below  the  San  Jose   Mission  and  near  where  an   English 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lm.mortal  Heroes      219 

gentleman  named  Robinson  established  the  first  beef  canning 
and  chili  con  carne  manufacturing  enterprise  in  Texas,  which 
was  succeeded  by  a  similar  enterprise  conducted  by  Captain 
William  Tobin  and  others  near  San  Pedro  Park.  Colonel 
Pyron's  widow,  his  son  Charles  and  daughter,  Mrs.  Clara 
Muller,  who  survive  him,  reside  on  his  ranch,  while  another 
surviving  son,   Dr.   Matthew  Pyron,   resides  at  Boerne. 

Confederate  generals  Henry  and  Ben  McCulloch  were  two 
famous  fighters  who  figured  in  the  Civil  War  and  spent  some 
time  in  San  Antonio.  Henry  McCulloch  was  in  command  of 
the  Confederate  forces  to  whom  the  Union  General  Twigges 
surrendered  his  troops,  the  latter  receiving  liberal  terms  ac- 
corded them  by  the  Confederate  commissioners,  Maverick  De- 
vine  and  Luckett,  being  permitted  to  march  away  to  the  coast 
with  their  arms  and  horses.  These  were  as  liberal  as  the  terms 
granted  Cos,  the  Mexican  commander  when  he  surrendered  to 
Milam's  men.  Twigges  and  his  officers  kept  their  faith  with 
the  Confederacy,  while  Cos  violated  his  obligation  to  Milam's 
army,  as  did  his  brother- indaw,  Santa  Anna,  after  the  latter 's 
release  from  San  Jacinto. 

Dr.  Sutherland,  founder  of  the  celebrated  springs  in  AVil- 
son  County,  w^as  a  former  prominent  San  Antonio  physician. 
He  was  in  an  Indian  raid  where  the  savages  killed  and  carried 
into  captivity  several  people  at  and  near  Sutherland  Springs, 
but  he  fortunately  escaped  with  his  family. 

William,  James  and  John  Vance  were  three  brothers 
who  came  here  from  Yell,  Arkansas.  James  and  William  had 
a  store  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  Plaza  and  Acequia 
streets,  now  Main  Avenue,  in  the  old  Yturri  building  where 
Santa  Anna  made  his  headquarters.  They  also  owned  the 
block  where  the  United  States  had  its  barracks  for  soldiers 
on  Houston,  St.  Mary's,  Travis  and  Navarro  streets.  John 
Vance  was  a  merchant  at  Castroville  where  he  owned  a  mill 
operated  by  water  power. 

General  William  Worth  was  a  United  States  Army  officer 
for  whom  Fort  Worth  was  named.  He  died  of  the  cholera  near 
the  head  of  the  San  Antonio  River  in  a  house  erroneously 
ascribed  as  the  residence  of  David  Crockett. 

John  S.  McDonald  was  a  noted  lawyer,  killed  in  a  diffi- 
culty with  Dr.  Devine,  at  the  corner  of  Soledad  and  Commerce 
streets. 


220         CONBATS    AMD    CONQUESTS    OF    Lm.MORTAL    HeROES 

The  lats  Max  Neuendorf,  formerly  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
was  a  well  known  San  Antonian  of  early  days.  He  married 
a  daughter  of  Don  Antonio  Menchaca.  Three  daughters  and 
a  son  survive  him. 

Jack  Wilcox  was  another  of  the  prominent  members  of 
the  Texas  Bar  who  resided  in  San  Antonio.  He  was  a  Mex- 
ican War  veteran  and  also  a  member  of  the  Confederate  Con- 
gress from  this  district. 

Samuel  Moore  was  a  well  known  Mexican  War  veteran 
who  died  recently,  after  participating  in  many  adventures 
with  Indians.  He  was  a  very  taciturn  man  in  which  respect 
he  was  compared  to  General  Grant. 

William  Chrysler  was  a  noted  San  Antonio  furniture  mer- 
chant, whose  store  was  in  the  French  Building.  He  was  quite 
eccentric  and  very  loquatious.  When  General  U.  S.  Grant 
visited  here  on  his  tour  around  the  world,  and  Chrysler  was 
introduced  to  him  by  the  then  Mayor  James  H.  French,  Mr. 
Chrysler  said  to  Genera]  Grant:  "I  expect  I  might  have  be- 
come as  distinguished  a  character  as  you  if  I  could  have  been 
able  to  keep  my  mouth  shut." 

Two  interesting  families  named  Gallagher  were  among 
the  early  settlers.  One  was  headed  by  the  late  Peter  Galla- 
gher, whose  widow  died  here  a  few  years  ago.  She  was  Mrs. 
Eliza  Gallagher.  The  niece  of  this  couple,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Conroy,  and  their  nephew  Hugh  Rice,  survive  them.  This 
family  of  Gallaghers  owned  and  to  that  estate  belongs  the 
property  on  Nacogdoches  Street,  just  east  of  and  adjoining 
the  Alamo  cluster. 

The  head  of  the  other  Gallagher  family  is  Edward  J. 
Gallagher,  whose  sons  are  E.  J.  Gallagher,  Jr.,  and  John  Walter 
Gallagher,  the  latter  being  a  postal  Clerk.  One  of  his  daughters, 
Bessie,  is  the  wife  of  Richard  J.  Lawrence,  of  Pittsburg, and 
the  other  is  Miss  Mollie  Gallagher.  E.  J.  Gallagher  possesses 
considerable  histrionic  talent  and  is  prominent  in  amateur  the- 
atricals. Both  Peter  Gallagher  and  J.  E.  Gallagher  are  among 
the  contractors  who  have  erected  a  considerable  number  of 
the  dwelling  and  busienss  edifices  of  this  city. 

Sam  C.  Bennett  was  a  former  merchant  and  ranchman 
who  owned  a  considerable  quantity  of  land  on  the  Leona, 
near  Uvalde.  For  a  time  he  was  custodian  of  the  Alamo  chapel 
to  which  position  he  was  succeeded  by  a  daughter,  Eleanor, 
who  wrote  one  of  the  best  accounts  of  the  siege  and  fall  of  the 
Alamo  extant.  She,  with  a  sister,  Mollie,  and  brother  Anson, 
survive  their  father. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes   221 


I     'I      I'll    I   1      'I   MOV  i>l--  Sllll.i  iH  , 


222      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

The  late  Major  Hardin  B.  Adams,  who  was  a  gallant  con- 
federate officer  during  the  Civil  War,  and  commander  of  the 
Alamo  Rifles  about  the  time  of  its  close,  together  with  Colonel 
Edward  D.  L.  Wickes,  owned  a  large  number  of  wagons  and 
draft  animals,  their  trains  hauling  supplies  to  the  various  army 
posts  on  the  frontier.  Major  Adams  is  survived  by  his  son  and 
namesake,  Hardin    B.  Adams  and  his  widow. 

Colonel  Wickes,  who  married  Miss  Eliza  A.  Thompson, 
built  the  San  Antonio  Club  and  Opera  House  and  the  build- 
ing adjoining  it,  owning  the  latter,  while  the  major  part  of 
tlie  stock  of  the  former  is  owned  by  his  widow,  Mrs.  E.  A.  T. 
Wickes-Nease. 

Jean  Espiasse  Loustaunau,  together  with  his  deceased 
partner,  Paul  Bergeron,  founded  the  former  well  known  French 
restaurant  on  Market  Street  known  as  La  Maison  Blanche, 
and  later  they  became  proprietors  of  the  Elite  Hotel.  Lous- 
taunau, his  wife  and  son,  Julien,  reside  in  the  southern  part 
of  San  Antonio. 

Eli  Arnaud  was  another  French  citizen  who  has  several 
times  served  as  the  alderman  of  his  ward,  as  also  Charles  Guer- 
guin,  another  well  known  French  citizen.  Mr.  Guerguin 
owns  the  former  palace  of  Antonio  Cordero  on  the  arch  of 
whose  portal  are  the  blended  coats  of  arms  of  Spain  and  Austria. 

General  William  B.  Knox,  who  was  a  former  sheriff  of 
Bexar  County,  and  a  very  prominent  citizen  of  early  days, 
was  one  of  the  leading  politicians  with  great  influence,  especially 
among  the  Mexican  portion  of  the  populace.  His  son  recent- 
ly deceased,  who  was  also  his  namesake,  served  faithfully  for 
some  years  as  a  peace  officer  and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death 
a   few  years   ago. 

Miss  Martha  Knox,  a  sister  of  General  Knox,  and  a  niece, 
reside  in  San  Antonio. 

Joseph  Schmitt,  lately  deceased,  was  a  German  pioneer 
who  built  many  of  the  prominent  houses  in  San  Antonio. 
Principle  of  these  is  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church  at  St.  Mary's 
and  College  streets.  His  old  home,  a  very  pretty  and  unique 
old  time  stone  structure,  stands  at  Garden  and  Nueva  streets. 
His  daughter,  Mrs.  Steinhardt,  resides  in  Aguas  Calientes, 
Mexico.  One  of  his  sons,  George  J.  F.  Schmitt,  was  an  emi- 
nent chemist,  and  for  years  was  president  of  the  examining 
board  of  chemists  and  druggists.  He,  at  the  death  of  the  late 
George  Kalteyer,  became  proprietor  of  the  Eagle  Drug  Store 
on  Military  Plaza.     He  died  a  few  years  ago,  leaving  a  widow, 


Combats  and  Coxouests  of  Lm.mortal  Heroes      223 

whose  maiden  name  was  Annette  Dwyer,  also  several  daugh- 
ters. Herman  Schmitt,  another  son  of  Joseph  Schmitt,  is  a 
leading  merchant  and  banker  at  Hondo,  Texas. 

Louis  and  Fritz  Rummell  were  early  German  settlers. 
Fritz  still  resides  here,  and  was  formerly  with  the  late  Paul 
Wagner,  a  toy  merchant.  Hulda  Rummel,  a  daughter  of 
Fritz  Rummel,  and  a  very  beautiful  woman,  married  Gus. 
Schreiner,    of   Kerrville. 

A.  A.  Wulff,  deceased,  who  built  Wulff's  Castle,  said  to 
be  a  replica  of  one  of  the  Rhenish  castles,  was  the  owner  of 
a  large  wagon  train.  He  was  alderman  and  mayor  protempore 
for  several  terms  and  the  projector  of  the  parks  on  Alamo  and 
Main  Plazas.     He  was  San  Antonio's  first  Park  Commissioner. 

Xhe  Gross  brothers,  Carl,  Gustav  and  Frederick,  the  lat- 
ter being  the  only  survivor,  were  leading  merchants  of  San 
Antonio  and  Eagle  Pass  for  many  years,  and  conducted  Gross' 
private  bank,  an  old  and  long  established  institution  of  San 
Antonio  doing  business  at  Commerce  and  Navarro  streets. 
They  were  among  the  founders  of  the  old  German-English 
school.  All  three  of  these  brothers  were  charter  members  of 
the  Casino,  San  Antonio's  oldest  social  organization. 

Nic  Tengg  is  one  of  the  old  citizens  of  San  Antonio.  He 
succeeded  the  late  A.  Pentenrieder  in  the  stationary  business. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  San  Antonio  Turn  Verein, 
also  an  ancient  athletic  and  social  institution. 

Conrad  Zuschlag,  also  a  pioneer  German  settler,  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  Turn  Verein  and  prominent  as  a  mem- 
ber of  its  fire-fighting  branch,  known  in  the  days  of  the  vol- 
unteer fire  department  as  Turner  Hook  and  Ladder  Company 
No.  L  Mr.  Zuschlag  resides  opposite  the  widow  of  the  late 
Major  J.  H.  Kampmann  and  very  near  the  new  Turner  Hall. 

The  late  William  Hoefling  was  also  a  prominent  fireman, 
and  the  foreman  of  one  of  the  volunteer  engine  companies. 
He  was  also  county  commissioner  and  alderman  several  terms. 

Edward  Braden,  deceased,  and  Philip  Menger,  also  some- 
time deceased,  were  both  prominent  volunteer  firemen  and  fore- 
men of  different  engine  companies.  In  the  days  of  the  volun- 
teer service  there  was  a  great  rivalry  between  the  different 
organizations,  especially  which  should  reach  the  scene  of  con- 
flagration first  and  throw  the  first  water.  Braden  was  a  Con- 
federate army  captain  also.  H 

Where  the  St.  James  Hotel  now  stands  was  the  dwelling 
of  the  late  B.  R.  Sappington,  a  Confederate  veteran  and  owner 


224      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

of  a  livery  stable  on  Houston  Street,  adjoining  the  San  Anto- 
nio River.  His  wife  was  a  sister  of  the  wife  of  Captain  Philip 
Shardein  and  a  niece  of  Jefferson  Davis,  president  of  the  Con- 
federate States. 

A.  J.  Lockwood  was  a  merchant  and  one  of  the  early  may- 
ors of  San  Antonio. 

George  H.  Giddings,  also  a  merchant,  was  the  principal 
owner  of  a  stage  line  from  New  Orleans  to  San  Francisco  pas- 
sing through  San  Antonio.  Indians  committed  many  depre- 
dations, murdering  his  men  and  stock  and  stealing  a  great 
part  of  the  animals.  They  burned  a  number  of  the  stages 
and  killed  quite  a  number  of  the  passengers.  One  of  his  brothers, 
James,  w^as  killed  by  Indians.  The  surviving  members  of 
the  Giddings  family  have  a  large  claim  against  the  United  States 
Government  for  the   damages  mentioned. 

M.  G.  Cotton  was  a  contractor  and  builder  who  restored 
the  Alamo  church  after  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1861  while 
being  used  by  the  U.  S.  Quartermaster  and  Commissary  officers 
for  storing  supplies  for  the  troops.  At  that  time  some  boys 
smoking  cigarettes  set  fire  to  some  straw,  communicating  to 
other  inflammable  material.  Mr.  Cotton  later  became^one 
of  the  justices  of  the  peace,  while  Anton  Adam  was  the  other, 
holding  that  of!ice  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  the 
father  of  Charles  F.  Cotton,  one  of  the  founders  of  and  up  to 
recently  business  manager  of  the  San  Antonio  Daily  Express. 
Clem  Cotton,  also  a  contractor  and  builder,  now  in  the  Phil- 
ippines, is  another  son.  One  of  his  sons  was  drowned  in  the 
San  Antonio  River  during  a  flood.  A  daughter  of  his  is  the 
wife  of  C.  Schasse.  Another  danghter  is  Miss  Agnes  Cotton, 
for  some  time  a  principal  of  one  of  the  city  public  schools. 

Gustav  Frasch  is  a  San  Antonio  pioneer  who  served  in 
the  second  U.  S.  Dragoons  when  that  military  organization 
was  commanded  by  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  and  Robert  E. 
Lee  its  lieutenant  colonel.  Mr.  Frasch,  for  over  20  years 
was  city  tax  assessor.     He  has  a  most   remarkable  memory. 

Captain  Edward  vStevens  was  one  of  the  brave  and  tireless 
peace  officers  of  Bexar  County  who  lost  an  arm  in  a  fight  with 
horse  thieves  while  he  was  sheriff,  and  ultimately  died  from 
the  effects  of  the  wounds  received  on  that  occasion.  His 
son  Edward,  known  as  "Little  Ed"  Stevens,  was  for  some 
years  a  deputy  sheriff,  and  was  the  constable  for  the  first  pre- 
cinct when  I  was  its  justice.  Another  son,  Charles  F.  Stevens, 
was  later  constable  and  is  now  a  deputy  U.  S.  marshall.     Like 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Ialmortal  Heroes       225 

their  father,  both  brothers  arrested  many  noted  criminals. 
Ed  Stevens,  Jr.,  was  with  the  posse  that  killed  McDaniel  the 
stage  robber,  and  he  captured  one  of  the  Pitts  gang  that  es- 
caped at  the  time  that  Pitts  killed  U.  S.  Marshal  Gosling, 
and  when  Pitts,  while  trying  to  get  away,  was  killed  by  the 
train  conductor. 

Jose  Cassiano,  who  was  for  many  years  county  collector 
of  Bexar  County,  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  thirteen  fami- 
lies of  colonists  from  the  Canary  Islands.  The  Cassianos 
originally  had  their  homes  at  the  corner  of  Galan  Street  and 
Main  Plaza,  adjacent  to  the  San  Fernando  Cathedral.  He 
is  the  brother  of  Jesus  Cassiano,  like  himself  prominent  in  local 
politics. 

The  late  Edward  Froboese  was  forerly  county  treasurer. 
He  was  associated  with  August  Santleben  in  the  transfer  busi- 
ness and  they  owned  many  wagons  and  mules  forming  a  large 
number  of  the  trains  hauling  freight  to  Mexico  and  the  frontier 
military  posts  and  settlements.  One  of  his  sons  is  a  city  police- 
man. 

The  late  Peter  Jonas,  who  was  also  an  old  time  freighter, 
was  for  some  time  market  master  and  county  judge.  Jonas 
was  in  charge  of  a  train  of  whose  teamsters  two  were  captured, 
tied  to  the  tires  of  the  wagon  wheels  and  burned,  one  of  them 
until  he  died  and  the  other  until  his  hands  were  burned  off. 
The  latter  made  his  escape  and  for  years  and  up  to  very  re- 
cently was  a  well  known  figure  who  sat  on  the  sidewalk  receiv- 
ing alms  for  years  and  until  shortly  before  his  death.  Peter 
Jonas'  son  and  namesake  and  his  widow  live  here. 

Gustav  A.  Duerler,  son  of  one  of  the  early  custodians  of 
San  Pedro  Park  is  a  prominent  citizen  who  was  a  chief 
of  the  old  volunteer  fire  department.  His  son  and  name- 
sake is  an  astronomer  and  meteorologist  and  has  other  scientific 
attainments.     His   daughter   is   the   wife   of   August    Herff. 

One  of  the  old  time  lawyers  of  Texas  was  the  late  Judge 
Thomas  Stribling,  whose  widow,  Mrs.  Eleanor  A.  Stribling, 
a  son  Ben  and  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Maury,  living  in  Virginia, 
and  Mrs.  O.  S.  Newel,  survive  him. 

The  late  Captain  Willam  McMaster,  who  was  for  some  time 
custodian  of  the  Alamo  church,  and  Captain  Thomas  Rife, 
another,  were  both  Texas  veterans.  Captain  McMaster,  who 
died  in  1907,  was  also  a  Mexican  War  veteran. 

The  late  Andrew  Jackson  Evans  was  one  of  the  l)rilliant 
lawyers  of  the  Texas  bar.     He  was  United  States  district  at- 


226       Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

torney  in  this  district  for  a  number  of  years  and  prosecuted 
most  of  the  mail  and  stage  robbers  tried  here. 

Nathan  O.  Green  was  another  brihant  lawyer,  and  for 
years  was  the  state  district  attorney.  He  was  in  charge  of 
stores  seized  by  the  Confederacy.  He  was  the  father  of  Robert 
B.  Green,  district  and  county  judge  and  famous  captain  of 
the  Belknap  Rifles  when  the  latter  won  most  of  their  trophies. 
He  was  also  the  father  of  N.  A.  Geeen,  a  prominent  San  An- 
tonio legal  practitioner. 

John  A.  Green  was  a  Mexican  War  and  Confederate 
veteran.  He  was  a  major  in  the  Confederate  army  and  a 
brother  of  the  celebrated  General  Tom  Green  of  Mexican  and 
Civil  War  fame.  His  widow,  who  was  Miss  Kate  West,  died 
in  San  Antonio  very  recently. 

Malcolm  Gilchrist  Anderson  and  his  brother  Theodore 
G.  Anderson,  were  two  very  prominent  lawyers.  Both  were 
judges  of  the  city  recorder's  court  and  M.  G.  Anderson  was  for 
several  years  district  attorney.  Like  N.  O.  Green,  both  were 
noted  criminal  lawyers. 

Trevanion  T.  Teel  was  another  noted  San  Antonio  crimi- 
nal lawyer,  and  was  also  a  major  in  command  of  a  battery  of 
Confederate  artillery  in  Sibley's  brigade  which  figured  promi- 
nently in  the  engagement  at  Valverde.  His  daughter,  Mrs. 
Ed.  Haltom  and  his  son  Van  Teel,  survive  him. 

H.  Tournat  is  a  French  pioneer  who  recently  sold  a  large 
ranch  he  owned  in  Bexar  County  for  many  years.  He  was 
for  several  terms  a  county  commissioners. 

One  of  the  old  French  pioneer  families  is  that  headed  by 
the  late  A.  Fretellierre,  who  are  relatives  of  the  late  eminent 
artist  and  civil  engineer,  Theodore  Gentilz.  Henry  and  Au- 
gust  Fretellierre  and  two   daughters  survive  him. 

Mrs.  Josephine  Roberts,  residing  at  Nacogdoches,  who  fre- 
quently visits  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Josephine  Walker  and  Grand- 
daughter Josephine,  is  the  grand  niece  of  Ben  R.  Milam.  She 
uttered  a  strong  protest  against  the  destruction  of  the  Vera- 
mendi  Palace,  where  her  disitnguished  kinsman  was  killed, 
but  her  protest  proved  of  no  avail.  She  had  witnessed  with 
extreme  disgust  previously  the  destruction  at  Nacogdoches 
of  the  historic  old  stone  fort.  The  inhabitants  of  Nacog- 
doches have  ever  since  been  ashamed  of  permitting  the  demo- 
lition of  the  stone  fort.  They  since  have  built  an  imitation  of 
it  on  a  different  site.  The  original  site  was  sacrificed  to  com- 
mercialism, just  as  the  Veramendi,  at  San  Antonio,  has  been. 


Co^iBATs  AXD  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes       227 

Enrique  Esparza,  a  nonogenarian  of  San  Antonio,  claim- 
ing to  have  been  .in  the  Alamo  with  his  parents  and  a  .brother 
is  a  picturesque  character.  He  tells  a  very  straight  story  of 
the  siege  and  fall  of  the  Alamo.  The  name  of  his  father 

and  brother  appear  upon  the  list  of  those  killed  there.  He 
says  he  was  a  child  at  the  time  but  old  enough  to  distinctly 
remember  all  of  the  horrible  incidents.  After  the  fall  of  the 
cluster  he  and  his  mother,  he  says,  were  taken  from  the  church 
wherein  the  last  stand  was  made,  and  carried  before  Santa 
Anna,  together  with  several  other  women  and  children.  He 
states  that  the  Mexican  dictator  gave  each  of  the  women  two 
silver  dollars. 

Madam  Candelaria,  who  died  here  at  the  age  of  110  years, 
also  claimed  to  have  been  in  the  Alamo  during  its  siege  and  cap- 
ture.    She  told  an  interesting  story  of  the  struggle. 

Mrs.  Perez,  who  was  the  mother  of  Alejo  Perez,  a  former 
deputy  sheriff,  undoubtedly  was  in  the  Alamo.  She  was  the 
widow  of  one  of  the  Alsbery  brothers,  one  of  whom  is  said  to 
have  been  slain  in  the  Alamo.  Another  lady  who  lived  in 
San  Antonio  for  some  time  was  the  wife  of  Lieutenant  Dicken- 
son. She  was  the  mother  of  the  child  known  as  the  "Babe 
of  the  Alamo."  There  is  no  question  of  her  having  been  in  the 
Alamo  during  its  siege,  although  the  giving  birth  there  by  her 
to  a  daughter  has  been  questioned.  It  is  not  unlikely,  how- 
ever, that  this  child  was  born  there.  The  one  said  to  have 
been  the  babe  of  the  Alamo  lived  for  many  years  in  Galves- 
ton. Her  daughter  married  a  furniture  dealer  in  San  Antonio 
named  Hanning  about  twenty  years  ago. 

The  Huisar  family  was  a  very  distinguished  one.  Its  head. 
Antonio,  was  a  sculptor  and  architect  whose  chisel  carved 
most  of  the  'beautiful  statuary  that  adorned  the  old  San  Jose 
Mission  until  vandals  destroyed  the  different  figures.  He  also 
designed  the  wonderful  window  yet  almost  intact  in  that 
mission  famous  for  its  beauty  and  copied  in  many  modern 
buildings.  He  is  also  said  to  have  planned  the  mission  itself 
and  to  have  been  aided  in  the  work  by  Bruno  Huisar,  a  kins- 
man. 

Francisco  Perez  was  the  head  of  another  prominent  Mex- 
ican family  who  lived  on  the  Medina  River  and  owned  a  con- 
siderable number  of  cattle.  His  son.  surviving  liim,  Antonio 
Perez,  is  a  well  known  S£in  Antonian. 

Another  very  prominent  and  popular  Mexican  family 
was  the  Montez'.  whose  home  home  was  at  the  southeast  corner 


228       Combats  and  Conquests  of  Lm:\iortal  Heroes 

of  Market  Street  and  Main  Plaza.  It  was  recently  demol- 
ished to  give  place  to  an  office  building  covering  the  entire 
front  of  the  block  extending  to  Dolorosa  Street.  This  family 
is  related  to  the  Bishop  Montez  de  Oca,  owner  of  the  famous 
black  marble  palace  at  Monterey. 

The  Trevinio  familiy  was  another  very  prominent  family 
of  the  old  Spanish  families.  Their  home  was  on  the  street 
named  for  them  on  the  north  side  of  the  San  Fernando  Cathe- 
dral. The  head  of  the  family  was  an  army  officer  who  com- 
manded a  part  of  the  garrison. 

Another  and  very  illustrious  old  Spanish  family  and  mem- 
bers of  the  nobility,  are  the  Garcias.  residing  on  Salinas  Street. 
Mariano  Garcia,  w^ho  died  very  suddenly  two  years  ago,  was 
one  of  its  prominent  members.  He  served  many  years  as  a 
member  of  the  police  force.  Of  the  Garcia  family  it  is  re- 
lated that  one  of  their  ancestors,  w^ho  was  very  wealthy,  died, 
leaving  a  fortune  of  some  millions  of  Spanish  duloons  to  a  close  re- 
lative here,  his  only  heir,  and  a  letter  conveying  the  tidings 
w^as  sent  from  Spain.  This  letter,  as  did  all  mail  then  com- 
ing here,  had  to  pass  through  the  hands  of  the  then  governor 
of  the  province,  who  opened  it  and  perused  its  contents.  While 
doing  so  he  was  observed  by  the  priest  of  his  household  who 
advised  him  to  seal  it  and  deliver  it  to  the  person  to  whom  it 
w^as  directed.  This  the  governor  promised  to  do,  but  instead 
of  so  doing  retained  it.  This  governor  w^as  familiar  with  all 
of  the  family  affairs  of  the  Garcia  family  and  determined  to  go 
to  Spain,  impersonate  the  heir,  take  the  letter  with  him  and 
claim  the  fortune.  He  disappeared  one  night  but  had  only 
gone  a  short  distance  into  the  chapparal  when  he  was  beset 
by  Indians  w^ho  slew  and  burned  him.  A  burnt  fragment  of 
that  letter  was  found  by  the  body 

The  corpse  was  not  found  for  a  long  time  after  the  dis- 
appearance of  the  governor,  and  the  priest,  to  whom  the  let- 
ter's burnt  fragment  w^as  given,  took  it  to  the  heir  and  gave  it 
to  him,  but  he  did  not  attempt  to  go  to  Spain  after  his  heritage 
for  some  time,  fearing  the  family  of  the  governor  and  the  lat- 
ter's  officers,  who  w^ere  powerful  and  influential.  The  result 
was  that  none  of  the  San  Antonio  branch  of  the  Garcia  family 
ever  got  any  portion  of  the  rich  legacy  beciueathed  to  their 
ancestor. 

Among  other  old  Mexican  families  were  the  Euritia,  the 
Torres  and  the  Talamantes,  the  latter  being  one  of  the  old 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Laimortal  Heroes       229 

waggoners  whose  prairie  schooners  pHed  over  the  prairies  haul- 
ing cargos  of  freight. 

The  Quintana  family,  whose  head  was  the  late  Don  Rafael 
Quintana,  is  an  old  and  honored  one.  Its  head  came  from  Min- 
orca. He  came  to  Texas  as  the  band  master  of  the  regimental 
band  of  United  States  Dragoons.  He  was  a  very  large,  tall 
and  powerful  man.  Although  the  leader,  or  chief  musi- 
cian of  this  band  he  frequently  served  as  its  drum  major.  His 
daughters,  all  of  whom  are  beautiful  women,  were  blondes  with 
golden  hair.  Two  of  his  sons  have  served  as  members  of  the 
police  force.  The  home  of  this  family  adjoined  that  of  the 
Trevinios  and  was  in  the  immediate  rear  of  the  present  Frost 
Bank  Building. 

Among  the  prominent  old  French  families  are  the  Halffs, 
the  heads  of  both  of  which,  A.  and  M.  Halff,  recently  died. 
Both  were  wholesale  merchants.  Their  sons  and  heirs  are 
their  successors. 

The  late  A.  B.  Frank  was  a  very  prominent  and  wealthy 
wholesale  merchant,  and  besides  being  the  head  of  the  A.  B. 
Frank  Wholesale  Grocery  Company,  was  a  member  of  the 
Goldfrank,  Frank  &  Co.,  wholesale  dry  goods  firm.  Their 
business  place  was  located  where  the  San  Antonio  Drug  Com- 
pany now  has  its  establishment. 

Wiliam  Hiener  was  a  German  pioneer.  He  was  for  years 
the  city  sexton  and  conducted  an  undertaking  institution. 
Joseph  Sheern  was  another  undertaker  who  buried  a  great 
many  of  the  early  inhabitants  and  especially  during  two  cholera 
epidemics. 

Erasmo  Seguin,  for  whom  the  town  of  Seguin  was  named, 
was  one  of  the  mayors  of  San  Antonio  about  the  time  of  the  in- 
vasion by  Santa  Anna's  army.  He  owned  considerable  land 
acreage  near  Seguin. 

Wentzel  Seffel  was  a  pioneer  who  came  from  Germany 
in  1856  with  his  sons  Edward  A.,  P.  W..  /Vnton  and  Frank 
A.  Seffel.  Wentzel  Seffel  was  a  weaver  but  finding  no  looms 
here  became  the  principal  truck  gardener,  raising  vegetables 
and  fruits.  His  son  Edward  is  a  decorator.  Peter  W.  Seftel 
was  a  blacksmith  and  farrier,  working  many  years  for  the  United 
States  Government,  also  a  city  policeman  for  eight  years. 
He  died  in  1896.  Fran  k  Seffel,  who  was  a  tinner,  is  also  dead. 
The  other  surviving  son  of  Wentzel  Seffel  is  Anton  Seffel,  a 
painter  who  for  the  past  36  years  has  been  in  the  employ  of 
the  U.  S.   Government.     Edward  Seffel  and  Anton  Seffel  were 


230       Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

summarily  drafted  into  the  Confederate  service  at  their  homes, 
but  sympathizing  with  the  Union  cause  left  the  Confederates, 
went  to  Mexico  and  thence  to  New  Orleans  where  they  joined 
a  company  of  Federal  cavalry  commanded  by  Captain  Speed. 
The    regiment    was    composed    of    Texans. 


FRANK    PASCHAL,    PATRIOT    AND    PIONEER.        MEMBER    OF    FORCE    SENT   TO    AVENGE    MASSACRE    OF    FANNIN. 
FORMER    SHERIFF    OF    BEXAR    COUNTY 


Jacob  Schiffers  is  a  German  pioneer.  He  is  a  brother  'of 
the  late  Peter  Schiffer.  an  old  time  blacksmith  and  carriage 
maker  who  died  not  long  since. 

August  Krawitz  was  a  gun  and  locksmith  whose  establish- 
ment was  where  the  orphanage  at  the  northeast  corner  of  Cam- 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes       231 

eron  and  Commerce  Street  is  located.  His  son  and  namesake 
live  here  now. 

The  Oppenheimers  are  an  old  family  of  whom  Dan  Oppen- 
heimer,  a  banker,  is  the  oldest  male  survivor.  He  is  also  a 
Confederate  veteran.  He  and  Anton  Oppenheimer,  deceased, 
were  partners  in  the  banking  business  and  owned  a  large  ranch 
in  Atascosa  County.  They  as  well  as  the  Halffs  dealt  exten- 
sively in  wool  when  San  Antonio  was  the  wool  market  of  the 
world. 

Juan  E.  Barera  is  a  San  Antonio  veteran  whose  father  was 
provisional  governor  here  replacing  Veramendi  when  the  latter 
was  removed  by  Santa  Anna.  The  provisional  governor  men- 
tioned was  arrested  by  Antonio  Menchaca  and  Juan  N.  Seguin, 
but  on  trial  was  acquitted,  no  circumstances  of  an  incriminat- 
ing nature  being  proven  against  him.  While  he  served  at  a 
very  critical  period  of  the  city's  history  and  when  the  Alamo 
fell,  the  government  was  conducted  in  person  by  Santa  Anna 
himself,  Barera "s  duties  being  purely  perfunctory.  Juan  E. 
Barera,  who  was  many  years  a  deputy  county  clerk,  remembers 
the  arrival  of  Santa  Anna's  army,  noticing  particularly  the 
peculiarity  of  some  of  the  musical  instruments  of  one  of  its 
bands.  This  instrument,  he  says,  reminded  him  of  an  alligator. 
He  was  a  little  child  then.  The  Barera  family  resided  on  Dolo- 
rosa Street  on  the  south  side  of  Main  Plaza  next  and  east  of 
the  acequia,  or  ditch,  that  formerly  flowed  uncovered.  Dr. 
Charles  A.  R.  Campbell  resides  in  a  house  fronting  on  Nueva 
Street,  back  of  their  old  home.  He  is  a  relative  of  the  Barera 
family. 

Charles  W.  Baumberger,  who  was  a  prominent  educator 
of  early  days  and  taught  many  of  the  former  generation  of 
San  Antonians,  was  one  of  the  early  teachers  in  San  Antonio 
schools.  His  son  and  namesake  is  now  the  head  of  the  cement 
company  located  five  miles  north  of  the  city,  which  has  suc- 
ceeded the  former  Alamo  Cement  Company  plant  at  the  city 
rock  quarries  founded  by  the  late  George  H.  Kalteyer. 

Phillip  Schweitzer  formerly  a  German  professor  in  whose 
life  there  was  a  romance,  was  one  of  the  familiar  characters 
on  the  streets  of  San  Antonio  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  about 
a  decade  ago.  He  was  disappointed  in  a  love  affair.  Later 
he  had  the  misfortune  to  fall  in  a  deep  well  striking  his  head 
against  the  rock  curbing  which  caused  concussion  of  the  brain. 
This  affected  his  mind  and  caused  him  to  wander  about  carry- 
ing a  lot  of    newspapers  given  him  at  different    newspaper  offi- 


232       Combats  and  Conquests  of  I.ai.mortal  Heroes 

ces.     He  was  picked  up  nearly  frozen  and  carried  to  a  hospital 
where   he   died   shortly   after   of   pneumonia. 

Carl  Bergstrom  was  an  early  German  settler  who  landed 
at  Indianola  and  lived  first  at  New  Braunfels,  but  later  came 
here.  At  first  he  was  a  farmer  but  later  became  a  dealer  in 
hides  on  Military  Plaza.  His  children  were  Louis,  head  of 
the  large  packing  house  in  San  Antonio,  Otto,  deceased,  Sophia, 
deceased,  Oscar,  a  prominent  attorney  living  in  New  York 
and  Augusta  wife  of  Thomas  H.  Gray. 

The  Flores  family  were  prominent  people  of  early  days 
whose  descendants  reside  here.  They  own  the  northeast  cor- 
ner of  Alamo  and  Commerce  Street  on  which  they  have  given 
a  long  lease  to  a  commercial  firm  which  has  erected  a  large  build- 
ing there. 

Another  prominent  San  x-\ntonio  family  are  the  Cant  us 
who  foiTiierly  lived  on  Houston,  near  Nacogdoches  Street, 
and  still  another  is  the  Caravajal  family  who  lived  not  very  far 
from  the  Madre,  or  Mother  ditch,  in  which,  in  early  days,  many 
of  the  inhabitants  were  accustomed  to  bathe.  At  that  time 
this  ditch  was  on  the  edge  of  town  and  Indians  vised  to  raid 
in  that  region  and  water  their  horses  therein.  On  one  occasion, 
while  a  party  of  young  girls  were  bathing  in  this  ditch,  among 
whom  was  a  maiden  of  the  Caravajal  family  about  fourteen 
years  old,  and  very  beautiful,  Indians  came  upon  them  sud- 
denly unawares.  A  young  chief  caught  the  Caravajal  girl  as 
she  ran  out  trying  to  escape,  put  her  on  his  horse  and  ran  away 
with  lier.  Fortunately  some  mounted  men  were  not  far  off 
who  responded  to  the  alarm,  gave  chase  and  pursued  the  Indian 
so  closely  that  he  was  compelled  to  drop  his  beautiful  i:»urden. 
She  escaped  unharmed  save  for  the  fright  she  got  and  some 
scratches  from  thorns  in  the  brush  in  which  she  was  dropped, 
a  little  more  than  two  miles  from  where  she  was  captured.  She 
was  brought  home  by  the  party  that  rescued  her  and  which 
abandoned  further  pursuit  of  the  Indians.  She  was  aftenvards 
a  great  society  belle  of  San  Antonio  and  wedded  one  of  the  gal- 
lant youths  who  rescued  her. 

Louis  and  A.  Zork  were  two  of  the  old  time  merchants 
whose  store  was  on  Commerce  Street  near  the  San  Antonio 
National  Bank. 

Charles  Griesenbeck  was  a  German  pioneer  who  was  ex- 
tensively engaged  in  buying  and  selling  cotton  and  was  cashier 
of  Twohig's  bank.  A  son  of  his,  Hugo,  mamed  Miss  Lulu 
McAllister,  who  is  a  very  sweet  singer. 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes       233 

Erastus  Reed  was  a  furniture  dealer  of  early  days.  His 
daughter  married  Joe  George,  recently  deceased,  who  was  post- 
master here  during  the  second  term  of  President  Cleveland. 

Jose  Penaloza,  who  was  a  butcher  and  deputy  sheriff,  was 
a  politician  who  had  great  influence  among  the  Mexican  consti- 
tuency. 

Captain  Charles  H.  Merritt  was  a  successful  merchant 
whose  store  was  on  Commerce  Street  not  far  from  Main  Plaza. 
His  widow  survives  him,  as  does  his  daughter  Minnie  M.,the 
wife  of  Frank  H.  Bushick,  editor  of  the  Corpus  Christi  Caller 
Mrs.  Bushick  has  a  very  sweet  voice  and  sings  often  in  church 
and  social  functions. 

George  Horner  was  a  German  pioneer  business  man  who 
raised  a  large  family.  His  son  and  namesake  is  a  leading  mer- 
chant at  Uvalde.  Another  son,  Caspar,  is  manager  of  the 
Eagle  Drug  Store,  and  one  of  his  daughters  is  the  wife  of  F. 
A.  Piper,  also  a  prominent  business  man  of  San  Antonio  and 
Uvalde. 

Edward  Degener  was  formerly  a  congressman  froin  this 
district  when  it  was  republican.  Tw^o  of  his  sons  were  killed 
in  the  battle  between  Duff's  Confederate  command  and  the 
Texas  Union  force,  of  which  the  Degeners  were  members,  at 
which  a  number  of  others  were  also  killed.  Many  of  those  then 
slain  were  from  Comfort,  where  a  monument  to  their  memory 
has  been  erected.  A  son  of  his,  Hans  L.  Degener,  lives  in  Mex- 
ico. 

The  late  Baron  v^on  Meusebach  was  a  member  of  the  Ger- 
man nobiilty  who  founded  a  colony  which  he  brought  out 
from  there  with  him,  locating  a  portion  of  them  on  the  Llano 
River  near  where  the  town  of  Llano  now  is  and  the  balance 
at  and  around  Fredericksburg  and  Comfort.  The  Indians 
became  so  hostile,  however,  the  colonists  at  Llano  had  to 
abandon  the  locality.  Those  at  Fredericksburg  remained. 
Meusebach  discarded  the  "von,"  or  title  of  nobility,  moved  to 
near  Leon  Springs,  where  he  built  a  fine  house  over  a  boldly 
flowing  spring  located  on  the  present  United  States  maneuvers 
reservation.  The  Meusebach  family,  descendants  of  his,  is  a 
prominent  one  to-day  in  San  Antonio.  To  propitiate  the 
Indians  Meusebach  presented  them  with  discarded  uniforms 
of  the  German  army.  Not  long  ago,  in  making  an  excavation 
near  Fredericksburg,  the  body  of  a  very  large  Indian  chief 
was  exhumed.  It  was  clad  in  the  remnants  of  one  of  these 
uniforms. 


234  CO-MBATS    AND    CONQUESTS    OF    ImMORTAL    HeROES 

Margaret  Olive  Jordan,  Avife  of  A.  H.  Jordan,  is 
a  writer  of  some  excellent  verse  and  has  written  a  couple  of 
successful   works    of    sentiment    and    fiction. 

Major  James  B.  Armstrong,  now  living  at  his  ranch  near 
Catharine,  is  a  noted  scout  and  ranger  who  has  been  a  hard 
frontier  fighter  of  outlaws  and  desperadoes  as  well  as  Indians. 
During  his  services  as  a  ranger  covering  a  long  period,  he  cap- 
tured  many   notorious   criminals. 

Captain  William  Scott,  residing  in  San  Antonio,  is  another 
famous  Texas  ranger  who  has  fought  and  caught  many  harden- 
ed criminals.  He  was  dreadfully  wounded  several  times 
in  encounters  with  them,  notwithstanding  which  he  always 
managed  to  get  the   ones  he  went   after. 

William  Cassin  is  another  noted  pioneer  who  has  acquired 
considerable  landed  estate.  When  he  first  came  to  Texas 
he  proposed  to  teach  in  one  of  the  County  public  schools, 
where  the  district  was  sparsely  settled  and  the  parents  of  the 
pupils  of  scholastic  age  generally  in  need  of  the  services  of  the 
children  to  aid  them  in  the  work  on  their  farms  and  ranches. 
Mr.  Cassin  applied  to  the  trustees  of  one  of  the  schools  who 
told  him  he  might  try  and  if  the  school  proved  a  success  they 
would  give  him  a  permanent  position.  He  was  furnished 
with  a  full  list  of  the  pupils  and  given  directions  how  to  find 
their  parents.  He  called  on  all  of  the  latter,  this  involving 
much  hard  riding  over  a  considerable  area,  during  which  he 
told  them  he  would  be  at  the  school  house  on  a  certain  day 
to  open  and  commence  the  school.  Most  of  the  parents  pro- 
fusely promised  to  send  their  children.  Cassin  was  at  the 
school  house  on  the  appointed  day  bright  and  early  and  full 
of  eager  hope  of  making  the  school  a  success  so  as  to  secure 
the  promised  permanent  position.  He  was  there  all  day 
long  and  until  after  the  lengthening  shadows  presaging  the 
setting  of  the  sun  were  succeeded  by  nightfall.  Cassin  says 
he  then  rode  away  firmly  convinced  that  particular  school 
was  not,  either  a  brilliant,  a  howling  or  any  other  kind  of  a 
success.     Not   a  single  child   appeared  to  attend  the   school. 

This  circumstance  so  discouraged  him  he  concluded  not 
to  further  pursue  pedagogy.  He  then  engaged  in  the  land 
business  which  proved  much  more  to  his  advantage  than  his 
other   pursuit   would   have    done    if    "school    had   kept." 

Several  San  Antonians  are  survivors  of  the  terrible  hurri- 
cane that  swept  Indianola  off  the  map  and  out  into  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  on  September  15,  1875.     One  of  these  is  John  Mil- 


Combats  axd  Conquests  of  Lmmortal  Heroes       235 

ler,  a  fish  dealer  who  had  a  most  thrilhng  experience.  He 
was  on  the  roof  of  one  of  the  houses  that  was  swept  away 
and  went  to  pieces  during  the  hurricane.  He  managed  to 
keep  hold  of  a  large  board  capable  of  sustaining  his  weight, 
clinging  to  it  desperately,  although  during  the  long  night  he 
became  very  cold  and  numb.  "When  daylight  came  on  the 
morning  of  the  16th,  he  was  horrified  to  see  lying  on  the  same 
board,  but  at  its  other  end,  a  monster  rattle  snake  which  had 
coiled  itself  securely  around  the  board.  For  cjuite  a  while  the 
snake  seemed  dumb  from  the  cold  and  lay  perfectly  motionless, 
but  when  the  gale  began  to  subside,  the  waves  to  become 
less  mountainous  and  the  sun  came  out  and  warmed  the  ser- 
pent and  the  water,  it  began  to  move  and  creep  along  the 
board  toward  the  end  which  Miller  was  clinging  to.  When  it 
got  within  a  few  feet  of  him  it  began  to  coil  in  a  striking  atti- 
tude and  to  vigorously  rattle.  Miller,  who  was  a  good  swimmer, 
released  that  end  of  the  board  and  swam  at  some  distance  round 
it  until  he  reached  the  end  relinquished  by  the  snake.  The 
serpent  remained  coiled  where  he  was  and  rattling  vigorously 
for  some  time,  but  again  uncoiled  and  started  to  creep  toward 
Miller,  who  waited  until  the  rattlesnake  again  began  to  coil 
threateningly  when  Miller  relinquished  the  end  of  the  board  to 
which  he  was  then  clinging  and  swam  to  the  other  end.  This 
program  was  repeated  quite  a  number  of  times.  Miller  noticed 
the  tide  was  carrying  the  board  back  towards  the  land  and 
when  he  was  not  a  very  great  distance  from  shore  he  released 
the  board.  He  felt  his  feet  touch  bottom,  and  abandoned  the 
board  altogether  to  the  snake  and  struck  out  for  land,  which 
he  reached  a  short  while  before  the  board  with  the  snake  on 
it  struck  the  beach.  Miller  deliberated  when  the  snake  was 
thrown  ashore,  whether  he  should  kill  it  or  not  and  had  pos- 
sessesed  himself  of  a  large  pole  with  which  to  dispatch  it,  but 
finally  concluded  to  spare  the  snake's  life  and  let  it  crawl  away 
into  the  brush.  He  said  the  snake  had  always  given  warning 
with  its  rattles  and  never  attempted  to  strike  without  doing 
so,  giving  him  an  opportunity  of  getting  out  of  its  way,  so  he 
concluded  to  be  equally  magnanimous. 

Tom  Rabb,  who  now  lives  in  Deming,  New  Mexico,  is  an 
old  Texas  scout  and  ranger  who  had  many  adventures  with 
Indians  by  whom  he  was  wounded.  He  captured  a  number 
of  noted  chiefs  and  killed  several  others,  among  them  the 
celebrated  Seminole  "Big  Foot,"  who  was  at  one  time  superior 
to  Osceola  in  that  tribe.     He  was  over  an  hundred  years  old 


236  CO.MBATS    AND    CONQUESTS    OF    LaIMORTAL    HeROES 

when  slain  by  Rabb.  The  latter  is  the  uncle  of  the  late  Dr. 
E.  M.  Rabb  who  died  a  few  years  since  at  Brownsville,  who  gave 
me  the  manuscript  bequeathed  to  him  by  William  Smalley, 
an  ancestor  whose  father  was  slain  and  himself  carried  into 
captivity  by  Indians,  among  whom  he  had  many  adventures 
and  was  made  one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Iroquois  tribe.  Smalley 
returned  from  captivity,  was  sent  back  to  them  by  President 
George  Washington  as  one  of  seven  commissioners  to  conclude 
a  peace  pact  between  them  and  the  whites.  This  Smalley 
was  enabled  to  do  alone  some  years  later,  the  Indians  having 
massacred  the  other  six  members  of  the  commission,  return- 
ing in  time  to  reach  the  bedside  of  his  dying  wife  before  she 
expired  and  Smalley  had  delivered  the  treaty  to  Thomas  Jef- 
ferson, third  President  of  the  United  States,  With  the  title, 
"Savage  Smalley 's  Speaking  Leaf,"  I  have  from  this  manus- 
cript written  another  book,  which  I  expect  to  have  published 
shortly. 

Daniel  Sullivan  and  his  family  are  among  San  Antonians 
who  survived  almost  miraculously  the  Indianola  flood  m^en 
tioned  and  Commodore  M.  D.  Monseratte  and  his  wife  are  two 
others   who    also    escaped  alive  from  it. 

Dr.  Frank  Fanning  and  D.  C.  Fanning,  of  San  Antonio 
are  descendants  of  a  branch  of  the  same  family  as  Colonel 
Fannin  who  commanded  the  force  massacred  by  Santa  Anna's 
minion,  Urrea  near  Goliad. 

The  Zambrano  family  was  one  of  the  pioneer  families,  as 
also  was  that  of  the  Sabriego,  the  Delgado,  the  Losoya,  the 
Salinas,  the  Olivari,  and  the  Lombrano  families,  members  of 
all  of  which  were  citizens  of  influence  and  standing. 

The  late  Major  James  H.  Kampmann,  who  was  an  early 
settler,  was  also  a  well  known  contractor  and  builder  who 
constructed  a  large  number  of  the  buildings  of  early  days  in 
San  Antonio.  Prominent  among  these  were  the  Menger  Hotel, 
which  he  acquired  after  building,  as  he  did  the  old  Alamo 
Literary  Hall,  now  the  Bexar  Hotel,  the  Kampmann  Building 
and  numerous  others.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Caroline  Kampmann 
survives  him  and  resides  in  their  old  home.  One  of  his  sons, 
Gus,  and  a  daughter,  Mrs.  Ida  Meyer,  who  was  the  widow  of 
Dr.  John  Herff,  also  survive  him,  as  do  several  grandchildren, 
among  them  Ike  and  Herman  Kampmann  Jr.,  and  J.  H.  Kamp- 
mann Jr.  Herman  D.  Kampmann,  one  of  the  two  sons  of 
James  H.  Kampmann,  was  also  the  owner  of  the  Menger  Hotel, 
which  is  now  the  property  of  his  widow.     Herman  Kampmann 


Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Ialmortal  Heroes      237 

was  a  very  liberal  and  progressive  citizen  and  one  of  the  foun- 
ders of  the  San  Antonio  Jockey  Club  and  the  International 
Fair  Association. 

The  late  Judge  I.  P.  Simpson  was  a  very  prominent  and 
witty  member  of  the  Texas  bar.  He  was  quick  at  repartee, 
always  having  a  ready  answer,  even  for  the  most  quizzical  ques- 
tion. He  is  survived  by  a  son  James,  and  three  daughters, 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  the  late  Herman  D.  Kampman,  Fannie, 
unmarried,  and  Caro,  wife  of  George  C.  Eichlitz.  James 
Simpson  was  a  sergeant  of  the  Belknap  squadron  of  the  1st 
Texas  Volunteer  Cavalry  during  the  Spanish  American  War, 
and  assisted  J.  P.  Nelson  in  the  construction  of  a  number  of  the 
good  roads  in  Bexar  County. 

P.  N.  Luckett,  one  of  the  three  Confederate  Commissioners 
who  received  the  Federal  property  surrendered  by  General 
Twigges,  afterv^^ard  became  a  Colonel  of  a  Texas  Confederate 
Infantry  regiment  and  served  throughout  the  Civil  War. 

Wade  Hampton,  another  Confederate  soldier  and  a  near 
relative  of  the  Confederate  General  of  that  name  was  a  well 
known  resident  of  San  Antonio,  who,  although  quite  old,  was  a 
commercial  traveler  with  the  reputation  of  being  able  to,  with 
his  persuasive  powers,  to  sell  soap  to  a  "Digger"  Indian.  He 
was  a  prominent  participant  in  the  battle  of  Corpus  Christi 
that  ended  in  the  capture  of  Commodore  Kittredge,  commander 
of  the  fleet  that  attacked  that  city. 

W.  B.  Leigh  was  a  well  known  lawyer  of  early  days,  as  also 
was  D.  J.  S.  Vanderlip,  the  latter  having  been  a  ready  waiter 
for  dilTerent  newspaper  publications. 

Charles  King  was  one  of  the  early  mayors  of  San  Anto- 
nio. He  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Sam  C.  Smith.  His  son  and 
namesake,  Charles  F.  King,  and  his  daughters,  Mrs.  Emily 
Cooley  and  Miss  Sarah  Smith  King,  the  latter  prominently 
identified  with  school  and  literary  work,  survive  him.  Charles 
King  was  a  merchant,  the  partner  of  John  Carolan. 

Sam  Hall  was  one  of  the  erstwhile  picturesque  characters 
who  owned  most  the  property  on  Market  Street  from  Navarro 
to  Yturri  Street.  He  built  the  first  bath  house  on  the  San 
Antonio  River  for  public  use.  He  was  a  Scotchman  and 
danced  in  costume,  the  Fishers '  and  Sailors  '  Hornpipe  and 
the  "Highland  Fling,"  as  did  another  Scottish  old  timer, 
Colonel  Munroe.  Hall  was  found  dead  with  a  bullet  w^ound 
through  his  head  following  a  period  of  financial  reverses  and 
ill  health. 


238       Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

Cornelius  Van  Ness  was  the  plenipotentiary  ambassador 
from  the  Texas  Republic  to  Spain.     His  two  sons,  Cornelius 


FRANK     TEICH   S     CONFEDERATE      MONUMENT     AT     AUSTIN.        HE      .MADE      THE    CONFEDER.VTE    .MONUMENT   IN 

TRAVIS  PARK  AT   SAN  ANTONIO    AND   COMMENCED   THE   MONU.MENT  OF    BEN  MILAM    THERE 

I.N    MILAM    SQUARE    WHICH    HE    WILL    COMPLETE    GRATUITOUSLY. 

and  George  lived  in  San  Antonio  some  time  after  his  death 
and  their  descendants  still  reside  here. 

Mrs.  Sallie  Barrera,  who  is  said  to  be  a  errand -daughter  of 


Combats  x\xd  Coxouests  Of  Immortal  Heroes       239 

Lieutenant  Dickenson  and  a  daughter  of  the  "Child  of  the 
Alamo,"  resides  in  San  Antonio  at  118  Connelly  Street. 

John  Bradley,  Sr.,  was  a  San  Antonian  who  was  one  of 
the  Perote  prisoners.  He  is  survived  by  his  son  and  name- 
sake, John  Bradley,  Jr.,  and  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Jacob  Waelder, 
widow  of  a  former  prominent  lawyer  for  whom  the  town  of 
Texas  was  named.  Mrs.  Waelder  was  left  a  widow^  first  by 
Lewis  Maverick,  Sr.,  who  was  the  second  male  American  child 
born  in  San  Antonio. 

R.  T.  Higgenbotham  was  a  pioneer  who  was  a  soldier  in 
both  the  Texas  independence  and  the  Meixcan  wars.  He 
was  wounded  severely  during  the  Indian  massacre  elsewhere 
detailed.  He  was  given  a  grant  of  land  by  the  Texas  Republic 
on  which  now  over  1,000  persons  reside.  It  is  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  from  Concepcion 
Mission. 

Dietrich  Stumberg  was  a  Mexican  war  veteran  who  was  the 
father  of  the  late  Henry  D.  Stumberg  and  of  George  Stumberg 
and  Mrs.  Lena  McAllester,  widow  of  the  late  F.  W.  McAllester, 
a  lady  prominent  now  in  literary  and  women's  social  work. 
Dietrich  Stumberg  served  in  the  United  States  Army  with  the 
late  Stephen  Dauenhauer,  a  blacksmith  and  carriage  maker 
and  building  contractor,  owner  of  the  building  at  the  Southeast 
corner  of   Commerce   Street   and   Main   Plaza. 

The  McAllester  family  headed  by  S.  W.  McAllester,  is  an 
old  and  honored  one.  S.  W.  McAllester,  who  was  a  builder, 
was  a  captain  of  the  Alamo  Rifles  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War.  He  w^as  also  justice  of  the  peace  and  county  judge  of 
Bexar  County.  The  family  were  all  musicians  and  formed  an 
orchestra  among  their  own  members  exclusively.  Mrs.  Annie 
Katzenberger,  now  residing  in  Chicago  and  Mrs.  Lulu  Griesen- 
beck,  two  of  the  daughters  of  the  late  S.  W.  McAllester,  are 
vocalists  of  note.  Joe  McAllester,  a  San  Antonio  merchant, 
is  a  violinist  of  considerable  repute.  F.  W.  McAllester,  who 
was  secretary  of  the  retail  Merchant's  Association  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  was  also  an  excellent  violinist.  Another 
son  of  S.  W.  McAllester's,  Edward  B.  McAllester,  is  a  deputy 
of  the  present  county  assessor. 

Dr.  G.  J.  Houston,  father  of  A.  W.  Houston,  Reagan  Hous- 
ton, the  late  Bryan  Houston  and  Mrs.  T.  C.  Frost,  was  a  pro- 
minent physician  and  planter  whose  plantation  was  on  the 
Cibolo.     He   owned  a  large   number  of  negroes. 

Thomas  Whitehead,  an  Englishman,  was  an  early  resi- 
dent who  married  the  widow  ^'turri.   owner  of  the  proi^erty 


240       Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

at  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  Avenue  and  Main  Plaza  where 
Santa  Anna  made  his  headquarters  Avhen  he  came  to  besiege 
the  City  of  San  Antonio  and  beleaguer  the  defenders  of  the 
i\lamo.  Her  son,  Manuel  Yturri  de  Castillo,  and  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  Vicenta  Evans,  survive  her.  Her  grandson,  Manuel _ 
Yturri,  Jr.,  who  was  formerly  deputy  district  clerk  here  is 
now  a  resident  and  prominent  manufacturer  of  San  Luis  Potosi, 
Mexico.  One  of  the  Yturri  family  was  the  wife  of  "Big  Henry," 
former  sheriff  of  Bexar  County. 

Perhaps  the  oldest  printer  actively  engaged  in  that  pur- 
suit in  Texas  lives  in  San  Antonio.  He  is  Robert  Clark,  Sr., 
head  of  the  Clark  Printing  Company.  He,  early  in  life,  worked 
on  the  CiviHan,  the  News,  and  other  papers  in  Galveston,  and 
was  engaged  in  job  printing  there  for  many  years  before 
coming  here.  He  has  a  number  of  historic  souvenirs  in  the 
shape  of  programs  he  printed  for  various  patriotic  celebrations 
during  the  days  of  the  Texas  Republic,  the  Mexican  War  and 
other  occasions  of  import.  On  them  are  printed  the  names 
of  persons  who  figured  very  prominently  in  the  history  of  both 
the  Texas  Republic  and  State. 

Asa  Mitchell  w^as  the  head  of  a  very  prominent  family 
whose  descendants  are  still  living  in  San  Antonio.  He  came 
to  Texas  in  1822,  then  locating  near  Brazoria.  He  and  one 
of  his  sons,  Nat,  were  in  General  Sam  Houston's  army  and 
took  active  parts  in  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto.  Asa  Mitchell 
first  located  wdien  he  came  to  San  Antonio  in  LS-tG  near  where 
the  International  Fair  Grounds  are  now  situated.  One  of  his 
sons,  William,  was  one  of  the  ill-starred  Mier  prisoners,  who 
although  he  drew  a  white  bean,  thus  escaping  death  in  the  exe- 
cutions there.  He  made  his  escape  from  the  prison  walls, 
after  which  he  was  never  heard  from  afterward,  it  being  sup- 
posed he  was  either  killed  by  a  pursuing  party  or  died  of  de- 
privation in  the  surrounding  country.  Asa  Mitchell's  daughter 
Caroline,  married  a  Methodist  preacher  named  Belvin  at  Aus- 
tin. She,  Nat  and  William,  were  the  children  by  his  first  mar- 
riage, the  issue  was  tw^o  sons,  Milam  and  Hiram  and  twin 
daughters,  Laura,  who  also  married  a  preacher  named  Joyce, 
and  Medora,  who  married  Henry  C.  Thompson,  recently  de- 
ceased. His  other  sons  w^ere  Jack,  Martin  Luther  and  Wal- 
lace, the  latter  now^  being  a  member  of  the  San  Antonio  po- 
lice force.  Asa  Mitchell  owned  10,000  acres  at  the  confluence 
of  the  Leon  and  Medina  rivers  and  this  tract  included  Mitchell's 
Lake,  a  celebrated  duck  hunting  resort.  There  he  built  a 
palatial  residence  w^here  many  great  social  functions  were  held. 


Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Lm.mortal  Heroes       241 

The  house  got  the  reputation  of  being  haunted  and  to  this  day 
the  superstitious  in  that  vicinity  will  not  go  near  its  ruins  after 
dark,  although  there  is  the  temptation  of  alleged  buried  treasure 
to  draw  them.  It  is  said  that  during  the  Civil  War  a  large 
sum  was  concealed  there  and  many  pits  have  been  sunk  all 
about  the  place  by  those  in  quest  of  it,  but  they  invariably  dig 
during  the  day.  The  widow  of  the  late  Frank  Caldwell  is  a 
member  of  the  Mitchell  family. 

There  were  two  brothers  who  came  from  Louisiana  about 
185t).  Their  names  were  Heerman.  One  of  them  was  a  great 
naturalist  and  ornithologist  who  spent  the '  greater  portion 
of  his  time  gathering  collections  of  birds  and  their  eggs.  The 
other,  Theodore,  was  a  physician,  who  built  a  partially  finished 
house,  the  ruins  of  which  are  near  the  Leon,  and  which  are  also 
said  to  be  haunted.  It  was  near  these  ruins  that  the  petrified 
body  of  an  Indian  Chief  was  found,  who  had  been  a  prisoner 
of  the  Lnited  States  military  authorities  but  who  made  his 
escape  and  sought  refuge  in  a  small  sized  cave  infested  with 
rattlesnakes,  one  of  which  had  evidently  bitten  him  and  caused 
his  death,  for  the  corpse  was  clasping  the  vertebrae  of  a  ser- 
pent of  that  kind  when  found.  The  Doctor's  son,  Alfred,  met 
with  a  tragic  death  several  years  ago.  His  other  son  lives 
in  the  neighborhood. 

J.  B.  LaCoste  was  a  prominent  and  progressive  citizen. 
He  was  the  originator  of  the  present  system  of  waterworks 
here  and  also  one  of  the  first  to  manufacture  ice  on  a  large 
scale  and  profitably.  The  first  to  make  ice  here  in  small  quan- 
tities having  been  the  late  V.  Foutrelle,  while  the  late  Wil- 
liam Heuschkel  also  made  ice  in  small  quantities  prior  to  the 
operations  of  LaCoste.  Julius  Braimnagel.  now  a  very  promi- 
nent physician  of  San  Antonio,  and  several  times  City  Physi- 
cian, prior  to  devoting  his  attention  exclusively  to  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine,  was  in  charge  of  LaCoste's  ice  manufacturing 
plant.  J.  B.  LaCoste  was  a  son-in-law  of  Don  Antonio  Men- 
chaca,  whom  I  have  frequently  mentioned  in  this  book.  Mr. 
LaCoste's  son  Lucien  J.  LaCoste,  is  a  prominent  San  Antonio 
business  man.  One  of  J.  B.  LaCoste's  daughters  married 
Ferdinand  Herfi^,  Jr.,  cashier  of  the  San  Antonio  National 
Bank,   and  he  has  two  single  daughters  residing  here. 

George  W.  Brackenridge  is  a  prominent  i^hilanthroi^ist 
and  capitalist.  He  founded  the  San  Antonio  National  Bank  and 
the  Water  W^orks  system  originated  by  LaCoste,  becoming  its 
principal  stockholder.  He  has  made  liberal  donations  to  San 
Antonio's  public  schools,  both  for  white  and  negro  pupils.    He 


242       Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

also  liberally  contributed  to  the  State  University  at  Austin, 
having  built  one  of  the  principle  wings  and  dormitories  of  that 
institution.  He  has  been  president  of  the  San  Antonio  School 
Board  and  has  always  taken  a  deep  interest  in  San  Antonio's 
public  affairs  and  her  progress.  He  and  his  associates  in  the 
water  company  donated  the  magnificent  Brackenridge  Park  to 
the  public  and  he  has  made  other  munificent  park  donations  to 
San  Antonio. 

John  McMullin,  for  whom  AICiMuUin  County  was  named, 
was  another  prominent  San  Antonian.  He  lived  where  the 
Carnegie  Library  building  now  stands.  He  was  murdered,  no 
clue  being  left  to  the  identity  of  his  murderer.  The  motive 
for  the  murder  was  robbery,  as  he  was  known  to  be  quite  weal- 
thy and  to  have  always  kept  a  considerable  sum  in  an  old 
style  safe  at  his  place. 

There  were  two  families  of  Bells  here  who  were  quite  pro- 
minent. The  head  of  one  of  them  was  Samuel  Bell,  Sr..  He 
was  a  strong  Unionist  and  stood  on  Commerce  Street  where  he 
waved  the  Federal  flag  after  secession  had  been  proclaimed 
and  excitement  was  at  a  very  high  degree.  He,  however,  was 
so  universally  esteemed  personally,  that  no  attempt  was  made 
to  harm  him.  His  sons  were  Samuel,  Jr.,  his  namesake,  Pow- 
hattan,  Jesse,  David,  Edward  and  James,  and  his  daughter 
Margaret.  She  is  the  widow  of  John  Newton,  and  besides  her 
there  survive  him  his  two  sons  David  and  Jesse.  His  son  Pow- 
hattan,  notwithstanding  the  father's  strong  Union  proclivities, 
was  a  gallant  Confederate  soldier. 

Col.  H.  P.  Hord,  who  kept  Hord's  Hotelwhere  the  Southern 
Hotel  now  is,  and  afterward  kept  the  Menger  Hotel  for  several 
seasons,  was  one  of  the  true  types  of  the  Southern  gentleman. 
After  retiring  from  the  hotel  business  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Louis  S.  Berg,  but  died  soon  afterward.  He  is  survived 
by  his  niece,  Mrs.  Sue  Wash.  The  late  George  Grandjean 
was  a  clerk  of  Colonel  Hord  when  the  Colonel  conducted  Hord's 
Hotel.  It  was  a  mooted  quetion  which  of  the  two  was  the  most 
courteous  to  guests.  It  was  said  of  both  and  truly,  that  they 
took  off  their  own  coats  and  loaned  them  to  guests  to  wear  at 
meal  times,  it  being  an  inflexible  rule  of  the  hotel  that  no  male 
should  enter  the  dining  room  without  a  coat.  Grandjean,  how- 
ever, out-did  the  Colonel  in  courtesy  on  one  occasion,  when  he 
loaned  a  full  suit  of  clothes  to  a  friend  to  get  married  in. 

Louis  S.  Berg,  now  the  president  of  one  of  the  Frisco 
Railway  System's  branches,  and  his  brother,  Henry,  deceased, 


Combats  And  Coxquests  Of  I:\i.mortal  Heroes       243 

were  also  in  business  in  San  Antonio  up  to  the  time  of  the 
latter's  death. 

Gustav  Toudouze,  a  naturahst,  a  taxidermist  and  a  musi- 
cian, was  the  head  of  a  French  family  that  settled  near  Carmen, 
close  to  the  Losoya  crossing  of  the  Medina.  One  of  his  daugh- 
ters married  Leon  LeCompte.  He  had  two  sons,  Emil  and 
Frank,  the  latter  recently  deceased. 

The  Compte  de  Watin  was  a  French  nobleman  who  lived 
in  a  small  structure  near  the  river  where  Mitchell  Street  is  now 
and  who  was  mysteriously  murdered.  Before  he  died  he  man- 
aged to  crawl  to  the  Mission  Concepcion  where  he  was  cared 
for  until  he  succumbed.  This  was  near  where  Mrs.  Sarah  Gib- 
son was  robbed  and  thrown  in  the  river  where  she  was  left 
for  dead  but  escaped  alive. 

A.  Pancoast,  Sr.,  was  a  pioneer  clothing  merchant.  His 
three  sons,  Josiah,  Abe,  the  assistant  city  engineer,  and  W.  T. 
Pancoast,  survive  him. 

George  H.  Judson,  who  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
woolen  mills  at  New  Braunfels,  and  for  some  time  county  com- 
missioner of  Bexar  County  was  the  father  of  Moses  and  Wil- 
liam Judson  and  Mrs.  Josiah  Pancoast. 

George  Martin,  who  was  a  trader  and  speculator,  was  one 
of  the  pioneers.  He  married  Miss  Julia  Merrick,  a  sister  of 
Wulf  Merrick.  Their  sons  were  George,  Jr.,  now  a  prominent 
attorney  at  Pleasanton,  John  who  was  a  manufacturer  in  Sal- 
tillo,  Mexico,  and  his  daughters  were  Belle,  first  wife  of  Ed. 
Steves,  Jr.,  killed  in  a  runaway  accident  and  Mattie,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Lee  Bernard  Miller. 

Wulf  Merrick  is  a  genial  and  witty  San  Antonian  who  was 
a  Confederate  veteran.  He  is  also  skillful  at  sketching  and 
through  his  talent  in  this  line  I  have  been  able  to  give  a  repro- 
duction of  the  old  Molino  Blanco,  all  trace  of  which  would  have 
been  lost  but  for  his  having  sketched  its  ruins  over  half  a  cen- 
tury ago,  from  which  Will  N.  Noonan  was  enabled  to  portray 
the  historic  old  structure  as  it  originally  stood.  In  an  en- 
gagement at  Val  Verde  with  the  Federals,  in  which  Mr.  Mer- 
rick participated,  on  the  body  of  one  of  the  Union  soldiers 
killed  in  that  engagement,  was  found  this  soldier's  diary,  a 
most  interesting  one,  which  I  have  previously  published  in  serial 
articles  in  the  Express  and  expect  to  re])ubhsh  later,  having 
copyrighted  it.  The  diary  is  stained  with  the  life  blood  of 
the  soldier  which  flooded  it  as  the  blood  flowed  from  his  breast. 
That  Union  soldier  had  many  interesting  adventures  during 


244      Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

the  time  of  his  mihtary  service  up  to  the  time  his  Hfe  was  cut 
short  by  the  bullet  in  his  brave  breast.  He  and  his  comrades 
killed  with  him  received  full  military  honors  at  Camp  Verde. 

Mrs.  A.  H.  Jordan  is  a  wTiter  of  excellent  verse  and  author 
of  several  books  of  sentiment  and  fiction  that  rank  high  as 
literary  productions. 

Wash  Trayon  who  was  a  partner  of  McMullen,  was  one  of 
Jack  Hayes'  brave  rangers,  and  Morris  Symonds  another.  Sy- 
monds  and  McMullen  were  the  messengers  sent  for  it  that 
brought  up  Prentiss'  artillery  at  the  crucial  moment  during 
the  battle  of  Buena  Vista.  Excellent  time  was  made  by  both 
the  messengers  and  the  artillery  on  that  occasion. 

Judge  Luckie  was  a  Confederate  officer  during  the  Civil 
War  whose  descendants  reside  still  in  Bexar  County,  one  of 
them,  Eugene,  being  a  well-known  farmer.  He  died  from  a 
wound  incurred  during  the  Mexican  War,  after  suffering  from 
it  many  years. 

Leonardo  Garza,  a  very  prominent  citizen  and  former 
teacher  of  Spanish  in  the  public  schools  of  San  Antonio,  is 
the  son  of  one  of  the  Canary  Island  colonists.  The  former 
home  of  this  family  was  the  block  bounded  by  Veramendi, 
Acequia  (now  Main  Avenue),  Soledad  and  Houston  streets, 
The  senior  Garza  was  the  first  and  only  one  to  legally  coin 
money  in  San  Antonio,  which  he  did  under  a  commission  issued 
directly  to  him  by  the  crown  of  Spain.  Bullion  in  considerable 
quantities  was  brought  to  his  mint  here  up  to  the  conclusion 
of  his  authority  when  Mexican  domination  succeeded  the 
Spanish.  He  was  also  a  miller  and  had  a  mill  on  the  San  Anto- 
nio River  a  short  distance  above  Josephine  Street,  and  it  was 
the  uppermost  mill  on  the  river.  It  was  not,  however,  the 
famous  Molino  Blanco,  the  latter  being  located  but  a  short 
distance  below  the  old  Abatt  crossing.  The  old  Garza  build- 
ing on  Veramendi  is  doomed  to  destruction  shortly.  It  was 
from  this  building  that  Milam  fought  his  way  to  the  Veramendi 
palace  where  he  was  killed.  The  building  was  also  used  by 
both  the  elder  Garza  and  his  son  as  a  bank  and  when  one  of  the 
partition  walls  was  torn  down  a  large  sum  of  money  that  had 
been  hidden  there  was  found. 

Major  R.  S.  Neighbors  was  an  Indian  agent  here  for  some 
years.     While  such  he  secured  the  return  of  a  boy  named  Ig- 
nacio   Serna    who  had  been  stolen  by   Indians.     Neighbors 
thought   so  much   of  the  boy  that   he   adopted  him.     Major 
Neighbors  owned  a  ranch  on  the  Salado  where  his  adopted  son 


Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes      245 

Ignacio  Serna  now  resides.  Major  Neighbors  was  killed  in 
an  Indian  raid.  Ignacio  Serna  was  a  Confederate  soldier. 
His  son,  Ignacio  Serna,  Jr.,  is  a  member  of  the  present  police 
force. 

John  Fitzhenry,  the  veteran  policeman,  who  for  nearly  half 
a  century  has  been  a  member  of  the  San  Antonio  police  force 
and  previous  to  that  fought  Indians,  is  one  of  the  very  few  old 
time  peace  officers  left.  He  is  just  as  active  and  efficient  as 
when  he  first  went  on  duty.  He  has  arrested  many  of  the  noted 
criminals  and  hard  characters  of  early  days.  Among  the  pro- 
minent characters  he  has  arrested  were  Ben  Thompson,  King 
Fisher,  Warren  Allen,  "Rowdy"  Joe  and  Bob  Augustine.  He 
served  under  every  city  administration  from  the  days  of  the 
old  "Bat  Cave,"  the  nick  name  given  the  old  combined  city  hall 
and  city  and  county  jail  that  stood  on  and  formed  the  north- 
west quarter  of  Military  Plaza,  until  torn  down  when  the  pres- 
ent city  hall  in  its  center  was  erected.  He  has  seen  a  very 
active  and  interesting  career. 

The  late  Captain  Thomas  P.  McCall  who  commenced 
life  here  by  driving  a  stage  all  the  way  from  San  Antonio  to 
El  Paso,  and  for  years  was  exposed  to  conflict  with  Indians 
and  desperadoes,  was  another  old-time  peace  officer  who  had 
an  interesting  career.  His  stage  was  frequently  guarded  by 
Captain  Skillman,  Big  Foot  Wallis  and  other  rangers  and 
scouts.  His  widow  was  a  Miss  Krempkau,  daughter  of  a  promi- 
nent pioneer,  of  whose  four  sons  were  Albert,  John,  Henry 
and  William.  Only  one,  the  latter,  survive.  One  of  Kremp- 
kau's  daughters  married  Richard,  and  another  Fred  Heilig, 
members  of  another  very  prominent  old  German  family,  one 
of  whose  daughters,  Rose  Fleilig,  is  a  noted  musician.  Captain 
McCall's  daughter,  Mattie,  married  George  Walter.  His  single 
daughter,  Minnie,  is  an  assistant  to  the  County  Clerk.  Captain 
McCall  was  sheriff  of  Bexar  County  for  a  number  of  years. 

The  late  John  Dobbin  was  sheriff  and  city  marshal  here 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  splendid  officer  and  one  of 
the  kindest  hearted  men  in  the  whole  country,  but  spoke  in 
such  a  harsh  abrupt  way  that  those  who  did  not  know  him 
thought  him  the  reverse.  Once  when  I  asked  him  why  he  spoke 
so  severely  he  said  to  prevent  any  one  finding  out  how  "chick- 
en-hearted" he  really  was.  He  was  as  brave  as  a  lion,  never 
hesitating  to  tackle  the  hardest  and  toughest  of  the  many  des- 
perate characters  that  infested  this  city  and  section  during 
the  days  of  his  administration,  both  as  sheriff  and  as    marslial. 


246      Combats  And  Coxquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

but  whenerver  he  knew  of  suffering  or  sorrow  he  relieved,  but 
generally  though  some  one  else  so  he  would  not  be  known. 
He  was  a  typical  Irishman  and  possessed  the  warmth  of'heart 
and  generous  impulses  of  the  true  sons  of  Erin. 

One  of  the  old  German  Pioneers  was  the  late  Peter  Shiner, 


JUDGE   GEORGE   H.    N'OOXAX,    EMINENT  JURIST   OF   TEXAS.        ALSO   MEMBER   OF   COXGRESS    FROM   THE   FOUR- 
TEENTH   CONGRESSIONAL    DISTRICT    OF    TEXAS. 

who  was  quite  a  politician  and  served  several  terms  as  county 
commissioner  of  the  first  precinct.  He  had  several  sons,  Joe 
and  M.  K.  Shiner,  deceased,  and  M.  C,  present  city  assessor. 
Bee  Shiner  and  Henry  B.  Shiner,  the  latter  a  stockman  with 
a  considerable  cattle  herd  in  McMullen  County.     One  of  his 


Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes      247 

daughters  is  the  wife  of  James  Brady,  owner  of  the  Empire 
Opera  House. 

John  Mussey  w^as  an  eminent  attorney  of  early  days.  He 
was  the  father  of  Wihiam  and  Alfred  Mussey,  recently  de- 
ceased, Hart  Mussey,  former  animal  inspector  and  his  daughter, 
Susie,  was  the  first  wife  of  Captain  David  Morrill  Poor. 

Jose  Antonio  Navarro,  who  w^as  one  of  the  three  signers  of 
the  Texas  Declaration  of  Independence  from  Mexico,  was  a 
patriotic  citizens  of  San  Antonio  at  the  time  of  the  war  of  Texas 
independence.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Santa  Fe  ex- 
pedition and  was  imprisoned  in  San  Juan  Uloa  prison  in  Mexico. 
Another  was  Captain  Juan  N.  Seguin,  who  was  the  captain 
of  a  company  that  participated  in  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto. 
Seguin  left  San  Antonio  as  a  messenger  to  Houston  to  appeal  to 
him  for  help  when  the  news  reached  San  Antonio  that  Santa 
Anna  was  on  his  way  hither  with  a  large  army.  There  seem 
to  have  been  two  men  of  the  same  name,  Francisco  Ruiz,  wdio 
participated  actively  in  San  Antonio  history  contemporaneously 
One  of  them  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Texas  independence 
declaration  and  together  with  Maverick  and  Navarro  previous- 
ly mentioned,  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  at  which  the 
determination  to  secede  from  Mexico  was  reached.  Luciano 
and  Angel  Navarro  were  members  of  the  same  Navarro  family. 
Angel  Navarro  married  the  widow  of  Bryan  Callaghan,  Sr., 
and  mother  of  San  Antonio's  present  mayor,  who  died  recently. 

The  other  Francisco  Ruiz  was  the  Alcalde  or  Mexican 
mayor  of  San  Antonio  at  the  time  of  the  siege  and  fall  of  the 
Alamo,  to  whom  Santa  Anna  gave  the  task  of  disposing  of  the 
dead.  It  was  he,  under  Santa  Anna's  instructions,  who  burned 
the  bodies  of  the  defenders  of  the  Alamo  on  the  funeral  pyres, 
on  what  was  then  the  Alameda,  or  broad  portion  of  East  Com- 
merce Street  elsewhere  mentioned. 

Harrison  Presnall  was  an  old  time  stockman  with  large 
sized  cattle  herds.  His  son,  Jesse,  surviving  him,  resides  on 
Garden  Street. 

Charles  Hugo  was  a  pioneer  German  wholesale  merchant, 
who  together  with  G.  Schmeltzer  and  William  Heuermann, 
owned  the  Monastery,  or  convent  portion  of  the  Alamo  group 
of  buildings.     His  widow  and  son,  Victor,  reside  here. 

Alex  Sartor  is  the  oldst  jeweler  in  San  Antonio  and  has 
been  in  business  here  over  60  years.  He  is  a  German  who  came 
here  with  one  of  the  early  colonies. 

William  Small  was  an  early  settler  who  built  and  for  a 
time  owned  the  Lewis  Mill  mentioned  elsewhere.     He  died  of 


248        Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

cholera  in  1849.  Lycurgus  Small,  a  Confederate  veteran,  is 
a  relative  of  his. 

Five  brothers,  named  Devine,  figured  prominently  in  the 
early  history  of  San  Antonio  and  Texas.  They  were  Dr.  James 
A.  Devine,  who  in  1859  was  mayor  of  San  Antonio  and  who 
owned  the  property  on  which  the  present  United  States  Arsenal 
at  San  Antonio  is  situated.  He  sold  it  to  the  Southern  Con- 
federate States  Government  during  the  late  Civil  War.  The 
Confederacy  having  lost,  one  of  the  results  of  its  unavailing 
struggle  was  the  successful  confiscation  of  this  magnificent 
property  by  the  United  States  Government. 

Thomas  Jefferson  Devine,  the  second  of  these  brothers, 
was  district  attorney  from  1842  to  1856  inclusive,  after  which 
he  became  district  judge  and  was  such  during  the  Confederate 
regime.  He  was  appointed  associate  justice  of  the  Texas  Su- 
preme Court  by  Governor  Coke,  at  that  time  Hon.  Oran  M. 
Roberts  being  its  chief  justice.  He  was  not  only  one  of  the 
Confederate  commissioners  to  receive  the  property  surrendered 
at  San  Antonio  by  General  Twigges,  the  other  two  being  Sam- 
uel A.  Maverick  and  P.  N.  Luckett,  but  he  was  one  of  its  com- 
missioners to  receive  all  property  seized  in  Texas  by  the  Con- 
federacy. He  was  arrested  and  carried  to  Fort  Jackson  below 
New  Orleans,  where  he  remained  in  prison  some  time.  Dur- 
ing such  captivity  he  became  very  ill  and  was  released.  He 
enjoyed  the  distinction,  together  with  Jefferson  Davis  and 
Clement  Clay  of  being  the  only  three  who  were  charged 
with  treason  during  the  Civil  War  and  the  only  ones  to  have 
been  pardoned  without  trial,  accused  of  such  offence.  He, 
Maverick  and  Luckett,  the  three  Confederate  commissioners, 
were  sued  by  the  United  States  Government  for  ?l^2,500,00, 
the  valuation  placed  by  the  United  vStates  upon  the  seized 
property  placed  in  their  charge  as  such  commissioners.  This 
suit  was  dismissed  by  the  late  United  States  District  Attorney 
Andrew  Jackson  Evans  shortly  before  the  latter's  death,  sur- 
viving Thos.  J.  Devine  and  his  sons  T.  N.  and  A.  E.  Divine 
and  daughters  Mrs.  Alice  Smith  and  Kate  Elder  May.  The  other 
three  of  these  brothers  were  Daniel,  Joseph  P.  and  Gregory 
Phillip  Devine,  all  of  whom  were  quite  prominent  and  wealthy, 
owning  property  on  Main  Plaza,  South  Flores  Street  and  in 
other  portions  of  San  Antonio. 

John  Fries  was  a  builder  and  contractor  who,  under  an 
appropriation  in  1849,  restored  the  Alam.o  Mission  cluster, 
devoting  particular  attention   to   the   front   of  the   church   as 


Combats  and  Conquests  Cf  Lmmortal  Heroes      249 

well  as  its  interior,  which  were  in  a  great  state  of  ruin  as  left 
after  the  combat  in  1836,  the  Monastery,  or  convent,  as  it  was 
erroneously  called,  having  preserved  its  integrity.  M.  G. 
Cotton  was  the  contractor  who  repaired  the  church  and  placed 
its  present  roof  on  after  the  fire  that  left  it  again  in  ruins  in 
1861.  The  original  roof  of  the  church  was  flat,  as  were  the  roofs 
of  the  buildings  comprising  the  entire  cluster.  Besides  restor- 
ing the  Alamo  group.  Fries  built  the  former  market  house  of 
classic  Grecian  architecture  on  Market  Street,  and  quite  a 
number  of  other  prominent  buildings  in  and  about  San  Anto- 
nio. 

Will  and  Phil  Crump  were  two  brothers  who  ran  the  Vera- 
mendi  as  a  hotel,  and  so  did  one  of  the  Allsberry  brothers. 
Edward  Allsberry.  At  the  time  the  Veramendi  was  run  by  the 
Crumps,  and  also  by  Henry  Allsberry,  the  guests  were  required 
to  furnish  their  own  bedding.  W.  P.  Allsberry  generally  called 
Perry  Allsberry,  was  another  of  the  Allsberry  brothers  and 
both  were  brothers  of  Dr.  Allsberry  who  was  killed  in  the 
Alamo  siege  and  whose  widow  was  one  of  the  survivors  of  it 
and  afterwards  married  a  man  named  Perez.  Her  son,  Ale  jo 
Perez,  is  a  resident  of  San  Antonio  to-day. 

Colonel  Hugh  Rice,  who  was  a  native  of  Newry  County 
Down,  Ireland,  came  to  New  York  in  1819,  where  he  engaged 
in  business  for  a  time  after  which  he  went  to  Virginia  where 
during  the  Civil  War  he  was  chosen  manager  of  the  Confederate 
railway  service  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  with  the  rank 
of  Colonel  in  the  Confederate  army.  He  was  a  civil  engineer 
and  made  the  official  survey  in  1866  and  1867  of  Buffalo  Bayou 
on  which  Houston  to-day  bases  her  claim  to  being  a  deep  water 
port.  He,  in  December,  married  Ann  Conran,  a  sister  of  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Gallagher,  his  wife  having  been  a  sister  of  Mrs.  John 
M.  Carolan,  Mrs.  Patrick  Ryan  and  Mrs.  Julia  Gallagher,  wife 
of  Edward  Gallagher.  Hugh  Rice  died  at  Houston,  April 
3iJ,  1868,  and  his  wife  at  San  Antonio  later.  They  left  a  son, 
John,  who  died  at  Dallas  in  1873,  and  another,  his  namesake. 
Hugh  B.  Rice,  a  banker  and  real  estate  operator  in  San  Anto- 
nio. 

Edward  Gallagher  was  a  brother  of  Peter  Gallagher,  who 
was  a  ranchman  living  near  San  Antonio,  and  was  the  father 
of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Conroy,  wife  of  Thomas  L.  Conroy. 

There  were  two  brothers.  Irishmen,  named  Tynan,  wlio 
were  early  and  prominent  citizens  of  San  Antonio,  the  first  hav- 
ing been  a  bachelor  named    Edward    K.,    and  the  other  was 


250      Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

Walter  C.  Tynan.  They  came  from  Kilkenney  County,  Ireland. 
Walter  C.  Tynan  was  the  father  of  E.  W.  Tynan,  a  well  known 
business  man  of  San  Antonio,  likewise  of  Mrs.  Kate  Tynan 
Rice,  wife  of  Hugh  B.  Rice,  and  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Tynan,  a 
teacher  in  the  city  public  schools. 

Leopold  Veith  is  a  pioneer  of  San  Antonio,  a  Rabbi  of  the 
Israelite  faith,  who  has  lived  long  in  San  Antonio,  but  is  now 
in  California.  He  is  the  father  of  Simon  Veith  of  the  adver- 
tising department  of  the  Express  and  Moses  Veith,  residing  in 
California. 

Erastus  A.  Florian  was  a  pioneer  business  man  of  San  An- 
tonio who  left  several  descendants.  Two  of  these,  Calhoun 
and  John  Florian,  are  dead.  The  survivors  are  his  sons  Charles 
H.  and  Paul  Florian,  and  his  daughter.  Miss  Kate  Florian. 

Two  of  the  early  day  dentists  were  Doctors  D.  S.  Leman 
and  W.  G.  Kingsbury.  Dr.  Leman  lived  en  North  Flores 
Street  and  had  his  ofhce  on  Commerce  Street.  His  widow  and 
a  daughter  survive  him.  Dr.  Kingsbury,  a  Mexican  War  veteran, 
who  was  an  Englishman,  first  lived  on  Curbelo  or  Ouinta  Street, 
but  later  built  a  fine  stone  house  at  the  comer  of  North  Flores 
and  Kingsbury  streets,  which  was  recently  destroyed  to  give 
place  to  a  more  modern  and  much  less  substantial  structure. 
On  his  cheek  Kingsbury  carried  a  saber  cut  scar.  It  was  at 
Dr.  Kingsbury's  latter  dwelling,  then  occupied  by  N.  O.  Green, 
that  a  catastrophe  occurred  or  rather  in  front  of  it,  when  the 
Arabian  horses  owned  by  Major  Ord  while  running  away  col- 
lided with  a  large  stone  at  the  corner  mentioned  and  the  driver, 
Jimanau,  son  of  Major  Ord,  and  Father  Johnson,  were  thrown 
out,  the  latter  being  seriously  hurt.  A  short  distance  from  there, 
and  in  front  of  the  home  of  Henry  Weir,  Major  Ord  had  been 
thrown  from  the  vehicle.  He  was  carried  into  Weir's  residence 
where  he  died  within  an  hour. 

Prominent  among  the  French  inhabitants  was  a  family, 
the  head  of  which  was  Henri  Toutant  Beauregard.  He  was  a 
brother  of  General  G.  J.  T.  Beauregard  of  Confederate  fame. 
Henri  Beauregard  had  three  sons  and  a  daughter.  The  latter 
and  son  survive  him.  The  living  son  is  Leo  Toutant  Beaure- 
gard. The  deceased  ones  were  Alcee,  J.  Toutant  and  Richard 
Toutant  Beauregard.  The  latter  was  a  major  in  the  Confeder- 
ate army.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Agalia  T.  Beauregard,  survives 
him.  Amelia  Beauregard,  a  daughter  of  Henri  Toutant  Beau- 
regard, is  well  known  as  a  teacher  of  the  French  language  and 
resides  in  San  Antonio.     A  grandson  of  Henri  Toutant  Beaure- 


Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes      251 

gard  is  an  officer  of  the  United  States  navy,  having  graduated 
from  AnnapoHs  Naval  Academy  with  the  rank  of  midshipman 
several  years  ago. 

John  H.  Duncan  was  an  old  time  San  Antonio  lawyer, 
while  Major  Ludovic  Colquohoun,  a  picturesque  character  of 
San  Antonio,  was  one  of  its  well-known  citizens. 

Colonel  Thomas  G.  Williams,  father-in-law  of  Judge  John 
H.  James,  was  also  a  well-known  resident  of  early  times.  He 
was  an  army  officer.  His  wife  was  a  descendant  of  President 
John  Tyler.  Their  son,  Tyler  Williams,  is  named  for  the  for- 
mer president. 

George  W.  Caldwell  was  a  prominent  business  man  and 
politician  of  early  days.  He  was  for  over  20  years  the  secre- 
tary of  the  democratic  executive  committee  of  Bexar  County, 
a  position  held  by  me  for  a  considerable  period. 

Ernest  Altgeld,  a  German  pioneer  and  prominent  lawyer, 
father  of  George,  August  and  Ernest  Altgeld,  lived  in  San 
Antonio  many  years  and  owned  the  property  at  the  corner  of 
Main  Plaza  and  Galan  streets,  formerly  owned  by  the  Bustillos 
and  Cassiano  families.  His  son  George  is  a  well  known  member 
of  the  San  Antonio  bar. 

General,  President  and  Governor  Sam  Houston  has  a 
daughter  and  two  granddaughters  living  now  in  San  Antonio. 
The  daughter  is  Mrs.  Nettie  Power  Houston  Bringhurst,  whose 
daughter  is  one  of  the  two  granddaughters,  the  other  being 
Mrs.  Madge  Hearne,  wife  of  General  Roy  White  Hearne.  General 
Hearne,  a  Spanish-i\merican  War  veteran,  w^ho  was  the  com- 
mander of  the  Second  Texas  Infantry,  Texas  National  Guard, 
has  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier  General  and 
he  has  succeeded  Brigadier  General  Thomas  L.  Scurry,  since 
retired.  Mrs.  Margaret  Houston  WilHams,  who  died  recently, 
was  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Hearne. 

Dr.  Bringhurst,  the  husband  of  the  daughter  of  Sam  Hous- 
ton first  mentioned,  is  an  eminent  scientist  and  Confederate 
major. 

General  Hamilton  P.  Bee  was  a  prominent  San  Antonian 
and  Texan.  He  was  a  Texas  Independence  War,  a  Mexican 
War  and  a  Civl  War  veteran,  attaining  in  the  latter  service  the 
rank  of  Brigadier  General.  He  was  a  brother  of  Barnard  E. 
Bee,  also  a  prominent  Confederate  General.  His  sons  Carlos 
and  Hamilton  Bee  reside  in  San  Antonio,  the  former  being  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  Carlos  Bee  is  a  brother-in-law 
of  Congressman  Albert  Burleson.  Hamilton  Bee  married  Miss 
Zella  DeHymel,   sister  of  F.   O.   DeHymel. 


252       Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 


Prominent  among  the  Milesians  who  located  in  San  Antonio 
were  several  named  Ryan.  The  head  of  one  of  these  families 
waslMichael  Ryan,  who  came  in  the  oO's  and  was  a  business 
man  in  San  Antonio  until  he  retired  with  a  fortune  and  went 
to  Gonzales  where  he  died  several  years  ago,  leaving  as  descend- 


COI.OXEL   COLUMBUS   UPSOX, 
E.MIXEXT  JURIST,    ELOQUEXT  ORATOR   AXD  GALLAXT  COXFEDERATE   OFFICER. 

ants  his  sons  Joseph  Ryan,  city  attorney  of  San  Antonio, 
M.  S  Ryan  of  Laredo,  Gus.  B.  Ryan,  Mrs.  Hilary  Adams  and 
Mrs.   R.  L.  Christian,  the  three  latter  residing  at  Gonzales. 

Another  was  the  family  headed  by  John  Ryan,  a  gunsmith, 
whose  sons.  James  M.  Ryan  and  John  F.  Ryan,  and  a  daughter, 


Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Imaiortal  Heroes       253 

Mrs.  J.  T.  McOueeney,  succeed  him.  His  first  named  son  and 
his  daughter  hve  in  San  Antonio.  His  son  J.  F.  Ryan,  resides 
in  New  Orleans  and  is  the  chief  and  confidential  clerk  of  Louis 
S.  Berg,  president  of  the  Mobile,  Jackson  &  Kansas  City  Rail- 
way, of  the  Frisco  System.  J.  F.  Ryan  has  furnished  me  data 
for  some  of  the  most  interesting  articles  I  have  written  for  the 
Express. 

Dan  Ryan,  who  was  a  butcher  in  early  days,  was  one  of 
the  heads  of  another  of  the  Ryan  families.  He  has  a  son,  John 
Ryan,  living  in  Mills  County. 

Patrick  Ryan,  formerly  a  merchant  of  Eagle  Pass  and 
long  a  resident  of  San  Antonio,  was  another  head  of  a  well 
known  family  of  Ryans.  He  died  during  the  Civil  War. 
His  wife  was  Alicia  Ryan,  a  sister  of  Mesdames  Julia  and  Eliza 
Gallagher  and  of  Mrs.  Hugh  B.  Rice,  Sr.,  as  well  as  of  Mrs. 
John  M.  Carolan.  There  were  two  children  born  to  this 
family,  Harry  Ryan  and  Alice,  the  wife  of  John  N.  Brennan. 

Captain  Duncan  Campbell  Ogden,  who  was  the  son  of 
David  A.  Ogden,  of  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y.,  the  latter  a  partner  of 
the  great  Alexander  Hamilton,  came  to  San  Antonio  in  1838. 
He  took  a  very  active  part  in  both  the  Texas  Republic  and  the 
Lone  Star  State.  During  the  Cherokee  Indian  War  he  com- 
manded a  company  under  Edward  Burleson.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  surviving  expedition  commanded  by  General 
William  G.  Cook,  when  a  highway  between  Red  River  and 
Austin  was  located  and  defined.  He  was  a  member  of  Jack 
Hays'  ranger  force  and  was  also  carried  into  captivity  to  Mexico 
where  he  spent  two  years  in  Perote  prison  from  which  he  escaped 
at  the  same  time  that  John  Twohig  and  others  did  but  was  re- 
captured and  carried  back.  He  was  finally  released  through 
the  efforts  of  Henry  Clay.  In  1846  he  served  as  acting  adjutant 
general  of  Texas  previous  to  that  time  having  been  commissioned 
as  second  and  first  lieutenant  and  captain  of  ranger  forces, 
his  commissions  bearing  the  signatures  of  Sam  Houston,  Mira- 
beau  Lamiar  and  other  executives  of  the  Republic  and  the  State 
of  Texas.  He  was  a  soldier,  a  scholar  and  a  patriot,  as  well  as 
an  eloquent  orator.  His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Eliza- 
beth Cox,  herself  a  patriot,  came  to  Texas  in  1832  from  Lex- 
ington, Kentucky,  and  she  lived  under  six  different  flags  that 
floated  over  Texas.  At  the  age  of  ten  years,  together  with  her 
father,  mother  and  elder  sister,  she  was  in  the  "run-away",  or 
scare  and  flight  occasioned  by  the  advent  of  the  Mexican  army 
Her  family  was  in  camp  when  Mrs.  Dickenson,  wife  of  Lieuten- 


254       Combats  xA-xd  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

ant  Dickenson,  came  into  it  after  her  release  following  the 
fall  of  the  Alamo.  She  stood  at  Mrs.  Dickenson's  knee  and 
listened  to  her  recite  the  tragic  tale  of  the  Alamo's  terrible 
fall.  Mrs.  Ogden  passed  through  all  of  the  privations,  hardships 
and  terrors  incident  to  Texas'  early  days  bravely  and  without 
complaint.  She  was  a  personal  friend  of  the  principal  heroes 
of  Texas  history.     She  took  prominent  part   in  famous  "Flow- 


DEAN    WALTER    R.    RICHARDSON    OF    ST.   MARK'S  CATHEDRAL.       BORN   DURING  TEXAS  REPUBLIC  REGIME 

er  Battle"  fete  at  San  Antonio,  an  annual  commemoration  of 
the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  and  was  one  of  its  principal  founders. 
She  served  as  president  of  the  organization,  having  charge  of 
conducting  this  chivalric  function  described  at  length  else- 
where in  this  book.  She  went  "home"  in  1903,  at  the  age  of 
78  years.  Surviving  Captain  Duncan  Campbell  Ogden  and  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Cox  Ogden,  are  a  son  and  daughter,  the  former  be- 


Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes      255 

ing  D.  C.  Ogden,  his  father's  namesake,  residing  at  Ft.  Mc- 
Kavett.  Their  daughter  is  Mrs.  Cora  Ogden  Wilson,  widow  of 
the  Hon.  N.  T.  Wilson,  former  alderman  at  large  of  San  Antonio 
and  a  wealthy  stockman. 

Captain  Edward  Dosch,  known  as  "the  great  hunter," 
was  a  pioneer  who  first  lived  at  New  Braunfels.  He  was  also 
an  Indian  fighter  and  ranger.  He  moved  to  San  Antonio  in  the 
'50 's.  He  had  a  collection  of  antlers  of  over  a  thousand  horned 
animals  he  had  slain  with  his  rifle. 

Edward  and  Ullrich  Rische  were  two  German  pioneers  of 
early  days.  Edward  was  for  some  time  city  tax  collector. 
He  is  survived  by  his  sons,  Ernest,  Edward  and  Ullrich  and 
daiighter  Mrs.  Sam  Betters.  Ullrich  Rische,  Sr.,  was  a  part- 
ner of  the  late  Captain  Edward  Dosch. 

General  Lorenzo  De  Zavala  and  his  wife  Emily  were  both 
patriots  and  participants  in  prominent  historic  events.  He  was  the 
first  signer  of  the  declaration  of  Texas  independence  document 
and  the  first  vice-president  of  the  Texas  Republic.  It  was  he 
who  designated  the  date  for  holding  the  "Consultation"  conven- 
tion and  was  the  author  of  the  Mexican  Constitution  of  1824 
for  which  those  fighting  against  Santa  Anna,  the  dictator,  at 
first  contended  and  until  they  concluded  to  have  a  constitution 
of  their  own.  He  was  president  of  the  convention  that  deter- 
mined upon  the  independence  of  Texas  from  Mexico  and  de- 
signed the  flag  of  that  republic  which  was  adopted  in  March, 
1836.  He  was  an  author,  statesman,  philantrophist  and  soldier 
as  well  as  a  patriot,  scholar  and  gentleman.  He  and  his  wife 
gave  their  home  for  use  as  a  hospital  to  those  wounded  at 
San  Jacinto;  their  granddaughter,  Miss  Adina  Zavalla,  has  done 
much  for  saving  and  preserving  the  old  missions  mentioned, 
striving  hardest  for  the  Alamo. 

One  of  Texas'  immortal  heroes  was  Garesche  Ord,  who 
likewise  was  a  martyr.  He  died  on  the  field  of  battle  from 
the  thrust  into  his  heart  of  a  dagger  by  a  wounded  Spanish 
officer  while  giving  his  assassin  a  drink  of  water  from  his  can- 
teen, for  which  the  Spaniard  had  asked. 

Major  Pierce  M.  B.  Travis,  a  nephew  of  Colonel  William 
Barrett  Travis,  commandant  of  the  defenders  of  the  Alamo, 
is  a  retired  United  States  army  officer,  residing  in  San  Antonio 
with  his  son-in-law's  family  at  Ft.  Sam  Houston,  Texas.  Like 
his  distinguished  hero  kinsman.  Major  Travis  has  been  in  many 
battles,  having  been  a  soldier  and  an  officer  of  the  United 
States  army  for  many  years  up  to  his  retirement. 


256       Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

Doctor  Ferdinand  von  HeriT  is  the  Nestor  of  the  Medical 
profession  in  Texas  and  probably  in  the  South  if  not  in  the 
Union.  He  is  over  90  years  old  and  has  been  practicing  medi- 
cine and  actively  engaged  in  surgery  for  over  70  years.  He  was 
born  in  November,  1820,  in  Hessian  Darmstadt.  He  is  a  scion 
of  a  noble  and  distinguished  family.  His  father  was  the  judge 
of  the  supreme  court  of  that  principality.  His  mother  was  the 
Baroness  Elizabeth  von  Meusebach.  He  was  educated  at 
the  medical  universities  of  Bonn  and  Berlin  as  w^ell  as  Giessen. 
After  graduating  with  honors  he  went  back  to  his  home  at  Darm- 
stadt where  he  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon  in  the  Prussian 
army. 

Some  years  later,  and  in  1847,  the  German  Immigration 
Company,  which  was  headed  by  Prince  Solms  von  Braunfels 
and  soon  after  under  Baron  von  Meusebach,  sought  to  establish 
colonies  in  Texas.  Prince  Solms  established  a  colony  at  New 
Braunfels,  Baron  von  Meusebach  one  at  Fredericksburg  and 
Dr.  Herff,  the  third  at  the  Llano  River,  he  and  about  forty 
other  highly  educated  and  prominent  young  men  leaving  Ger- 
many with  him  and  joining  him  in  this  enterprise.  All  of  these 
colonies  endured  great  hardships  and  privations,  but  Dr.  Herff 's 
suffered  most,  being  the  most  distant  from  other  human  habita- 
tions and  traffic.  Indians  infested  the  locality  and  were  quite 
hostile  towards  most  of  its  members  except  the  doctor  himself. 
He  treated  the  Indians  when  they  were  wounded  or  ill  and  they 
did  not  harm  him  nor  make  any  attempt  to  do  so  when  they 
became  acquainted  with  him.  \A  hen  he  first  went  out  with 
his  colony  he  used  to  take  his  turn  at  standing  guard,  which 
was  required  of  all  the  male  colonists.  Ihe  principal  weapon 
was  a  long,  sharp  pointed  lance,  such  as  the  Prussian  soldiers 
were  accustomed  to  use.  It  was  of  not  the  slightest  service 
against  attacks  from  Indians  who  used  their  bows  and  arrows 
with  deadly  effect  against  the  colonists  from  behind  the  rocks. 
One  of  the  Indian  chiefs,  when  he  met  the  Doctor  while  on 
guard,  told  him  as  long  as  he  carried  the  lance  and  did  not  use 
a  gun  or  a  pistol  he  would  be  entirely  safe  from  attack  by  any 
of  the  Indians. 

This  chief  told  Dr.  Herff'  that  the  Indians  greatly  enjoyed 
the  sight  of  his  riding  around  his  herd  of  stock  with  his  lance 
poised  or  at  rest.  The  Indians  in  many  ways  sought  to  attest 
their  gratitude  to  him  for  his  services.  On  one  occasion  an 
aged  and  blind  chief  was  brought  to  him.  By  a  surgical  oper- 
ation the  Doctor  removed  the  cataracts  from  the  Indian's  eyes 


Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes       257 

and  restored  their  sight.  The  Indian  left  after  he  had  been 
cured  completely,  having  remained  during  treatment  about  the 
quarters  of  the  colonists.  The  Doctor  did  not  see  anything 
miore  of  him  for  over  a  year  when  one  day  the  old  chief  rode  up 
bringing  with  him  a  young  Indian  girl  which  he  presented  to 
the  Doctor  as  a  rew^ard  for  the  great  services  Dr.  Herfif  had 
performed  for  him.  Doubtless  this  child  had  been  stolen 
from  some  other  tribe  with  which  the  old  chief's  tribe  was  at 
Vv'ar  and  her  parents  slain,  so  there  was  no  alternative  but  to 
keep  her  in  the  colony.  She  was  taken  charge  of  by  the  ladies, 
one  of  them,  the  wife  of  Dr.  Lindheimer,  a  botanist,  began  her 
education.  They  called  her  Lena,  and  that  was  the  only  name 
the  Indian  girl  had.  Later  she  was  taken  to  New  Braunfels 
where  her  education  w^as  completed  and  she  married  Her- 
man Spies,  one  of  the  directors  of  the  colony.  They  had 
several  sons  who  were  educated  at  the  German-English  school 
in  San  Antonio  with  Dr.  Kerff's  sons.  The  Spies  family  moved 
to  Missouri  and  subsequently  to  New  York,  where  Spies  died 
of  a  brain  complication.  His  widow  and  sons  are  living  yet  in 
New  York. 

After  the  colony  had  been  in  existence  for  some  time 
several  young  ladies  who  were  betrothed  to  some  of  its  mem- 
bers, came  out  to  join  and  w^ed  their  afhanced,  but  they 
created  great  consternation  in  the  camp  of  the  colonists  by 
demanding  that  clean  tc^^els  be  supplied  each  of  them  thrice 
daily.  Matrimony  seems  however,  to  have  settled  such  diffi- 
culties and  to  have  enabled  the  young  brides  to  supply  them- 
selves with  w^hatever  the  colony  afforded  in  the  w^ay  of  linen. 

Before  leaving  Hesse  Doctor  Herff  had  met  a  most  charm- 
ing and  accomplished  young  lady,  a  musician  and  painter,  in 
the  person  of  Miss  Mathilde  Klingelhoffer,  the  daughter  of  Wil- 
helm  Klingelhoffer,  another  of  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court 
and  associate  justice  of  the  same  tribunal  with  Doctor  Herff's 
father.  While  riding  around  the  vicinity  of  the  colony  Dr. 
Herff  frequently  thought  of  the  Judge's  daughter  away  in 
far-off  Hesse,  so  in  1849  he  went  back  there.  On  May  1  of 
that  year  they  were  married  and  remained  in  Germany  for 
six  months.  Upon  their  arrival  in  Texas  Doctor  Herff,  for  a 
short  time,  located  at  New  Braunfels,  but  in  .1851  moved  to 
San  Antonio  where  he  and  his  family  have  lived  ever  since  ex- 
cept during  a  visit  by  the  Doctor  to  Germany  in  186G,  with  wife 
and  six  sons.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Herff  were  inseperable  com- 
panions from  the  date  of  their  marriage  to  the  day  of  her  death 


258       Combats  And  Coxouests  Of  Lmmortal  Heroes 

which  took  place  July  9,  191U.  Their  living  children  are  all 
males.  The  eldest,  Ferdinand,  is  cashier  of  the  San  Antonio  Na- 
tional Bank,  Charles  is  a  ranchman  and  farmer  at  Boerne.  Dr. 
Adolph  Herff  is  a  prominent  surgeon  and  physician.  William 
Herff  is  Secretary-Treasurer  of  the  San  Antonio  Loan  &  Trust 


DITTMAR,     PROMINENT     LAWYER. 


Company  and  August  P.  Herff  is  a  talented  young  architect. 
Their  deceased  son,  Dr.  John  Herff,  was  a  skillful  surgeon  and 
physician  of  prominence.  He  married  a  daughter,  Ida,  of  the 
late  Major  James  H.  Kampmann.  Ferdinand  Herff  married 
a  daughter  of  J.  B.  LaCoste,  deceased,  Adolph  a  daughter  of 


Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Lmaiortal  Heroes       259 

George  H.  Kalteyer,  deceased.  August  married  a  daughter  of 
G.  A.  Duerler,  the  wife  of  Charles  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Durkee, 
and  the  wife  of  William  was  Miss  Lula  Addison  of 
Washington,  D.  C.  Doctor  Herff,  with  his  son  August  P.  Herff, 
lives  in  the  old  Herif  home  on  Houston  Street,  near  Navarro, 
the  only  dwelling  on  Houston  Street  from  Flores  to  Nacog- 
doches, a  distance  of  over  half  a  mile. 

Adjoining  Dr.  Herif 's  home  in  early  days  the  Vance 
brothers  owned  a  large  stockade  that  extended  to  Losoyo 
street.  They  rented  it  to  the  United  States  government. 
It  was  for  many  years  used  for  the  quartermaster's  coral. 
Where  the  Maverick  hotel  on  its  site  was  first  built  it  was 
used  as  the  headquarters  of  this  military  department.  It  was 
so  used  until  the  present  quartermaster's  quadrangle  on  gov- 
ernment hill  was  built .  The  government  had  another  stockade 
on  the  North  side ;  Houston  extending  from  Avenue  B  to  Na- 
varro ;  where  Confederate  prisoners  were  kept . 

One  of  particular  prominence  among  pioneers  of  Texas  is 
the  Dittmar  family  whose  head  was  Carl  Dittmar,  a  promi- 
nent scholar  and  jurist  who  came  from  Darmstadt.  He  dif- 
fered greatly  with  the  royal  regime  under  which  he  lived  there. 
He  preferred  life  under  the  flag  of  a  free  republic  to  the  res- 
trictions of  personal  rights  incident  to  a  rigid  monarchy.  This 
induced  him  to  leave  his  old  German  home  and  come  to  the 
Lone  Star  State,  which  he  did  in  1859,  settling  not  very  far 
from  Seguin.  This  was  in  the  year  1849.  The  following 
year  his  wife  and  sons,  Albert  and  Emil,  and  daughters  Laura, 
Anna  and  Agnes,   joined  him  in  the  same  locality. 

Albert  Dittmar,  his  eldest  son,  was  born  in  Hessian,  Darm- 
stadt, on  November  21,  1833.  He  soon  tired  of  life  on  his 
father's  ranch  and  went  to  New  Braunfels  and  Seguin,  where 
he  studied  law  under  judges  Sherwood  and  Thornton,  res- 
pectively, at  these  places.  In  1856  he  was  admitted  to  the 
Texas  bar,  after  having  undergone  a  most  creditable  exami- 
nation which  presaged  his  future  eminence  in  the  legal  pro- 
fession. One  of  the  examiners  on  that  occasion  was  the  Hon. 
Alexander  Watkins  Terrell,  later  U.  S.  Minister  to  Turkey, 
who  remarked  that  Mr.  Dittmar  had  undergone  the  best  ex- 
amination and  acquitted  himself  more  creditably  than  anyone 
Mr.  Terrell  had  ever  before  known.  He  then  went  to  New 
Braunfels  and  there  remained,  continuing  his  studies  and 
engaging  in  the  practice  of  law  until  1859,  when  he  moved  to 
wSan  Antonio. 


260       Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

There  he  soon  afterward  entered  the  office  of  and  formed 
a  partnership  with  Hon.  Thomas  A.  Stribbhng,  which  was 
concluded  by  the-  latter  becoming  district  judge.  He  next 
formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  William  E.  Jones  which 
endured  until  the  death  of  his  then  partner.  About  this  time 
the  civil  war  arose  and  Mr.  Dittmar  joined  Colonel  Duff's 
regiment  of  Sibley's  Brigade  and  was  given  a  second  lieutenant's 
commission.  After  having  been  in  the  service  for  a  short 
while  he  was  prom^oted  to  the  first  lieutenancy  and  at  the 
end  of  the  war  he  was  his  company's  captain. 

On  his  return  from  the  field  of  Mars  he  re-entered  the 
legal  profession  and  formicd  a  partnership  with  the  late  Hon. 
William  B.  Leigh,  which  endured  until  the  latter 's  death. 
Xext  he  served  a  single  term  as  district  attorney  during  the 
time  when  the  district  comprised  the  counties  of  Eexar  and 
Comal.  In  discharging  the  duties  of  this  cffice  he  proved  a 
most  successful  prosecutor.  Preferring  the  private  practice 
at  the  end  of  his  term  he  declined  to  accept  the  office  again 
and  formed  a  partnership  with  Colonel  John  R.  Shook,  now 
next  to  the  oldest  member  of  the  San  Antonio  bar.  This  firm 
later,  by  the  accession  of  Thomas  T.  Vander  Hoven,  became 
that  of  Shook,  Dittmar  and  Vander  Hoven.  Mr.  Dittmar 
remained  with  it  until  the  day  of  his  death  which  was  on  Jime 
21,  1877. 

In  1867  he  went  back  to  Germany  to  wed  Miss  Em^my 
Rehfues,  the  charming  granddaughter  of  Baron  Philip  Joseph 
Von  Rehfues,  the  latter  having  been  founder  and  first  curator 
of  the  famous  educational  institution,  the  University  of  Bonn 
and  a  noted  author  of  various  scientific  and  historic  works 
published  in  his  time  in  the  French,  German  and  Spanish 
languages,  with  all  of  which  he  was  fluently  intimate. 

Upon  returning  to  San  Antonio,  Albert  Dittmar  resumed 
and  remained  engrossed  with  his  legal  profession.  Surviving 
him  besides  his  widow  are  his  sons,  Charles,  Guido  and  John 
and  his  daughter  Mattie.  Mrs.  Albert  Dittmar's  mother 
was  a  sister  of  the  late  Mathilde  KlingelhoefTer  Von  Herff, 
the  recently  deceased  wife  of  Ferdinand  Von  Herff.  A  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Albert  Dittmar,  Lillie,  deceased,  was  the 
wife  of  Dr.  R.  A.  Goeth. 

Emil  Dittmar,  brother  of  Albert  Dittmar  and  son  of  Carl 
Dittmar,  who  died  several  years  ago,  was  for  many  years  the 
treasurer  af  the  W^ater  Works  Company,  his  surviving  sons 
and  daughters  are  Albert,   Bruno  E.,   and  Emil  D.   Dittmar, 


Co.MBATS  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes       261 

and  Pauline,  the  wife  of  E.  M.  Rice,  and  Ella,  now  Mrs.  Ewald 
Praeger. 

Laura,  the  eldest  daughter  of  the  late-  Carl  Dittmar  was 
the  widow  of  the  late  John  F.  Torrey,  the  latter  having  died 
some  years  ago  and  she  very  recently.  For  many  years  they 
lived  in  New  Braunfels  where  they  owned  a  mammoth  cot- 
ton mill  which  was  twice  destroyed  by  fire  and  finally  soon  af- 
ter being  rebuilt  was  utterly  demolished  by  a  tornado.  Sur- 
viving them  are  three  sons,  Edward,  Henry  C.  A.,  and  John 
Torrey,  and  their  daughters  Emmy,  Adele,  Mrs.  Rose  Harn 
and  Nellie,   the  wife  of  George  C.   Vaughn. 

Anna,  second  daughter  of  Carl  Dittmar,  became  the  wife 
of  Gustav  Conrads,  who  prior  to  his  advent  to  the  United 
States  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Prussian  army;  they  are  sur- 
vived by  two  sons,  Julius  and  Otto,  one  of  their  sons,  Alfred, 
having  died  some  time  ago.  A  daughter  is  Mrs.  Mathilde 
Luckenbach.  She  is  residing  near  Fredericksburg,  and  also  sur- 
vives them. 

The  youngest  of  Carl  Dittmar's  children  is  Mrs.  Agnes 
Jean,  sole  survivor  of  the  original  family  to  come  to  Texas. 
She  is  the  widow  of  the  late  Eugene  Pasqualle  Jean,  who  was 
himself  the  last  scion  of  a  famous  family  of  France  and  whose 
home  was  New  Orleans.     His  widow  resides  in  San  Antonio. 

One  of  the  oldest  printers  in  San  Antonio  actively  engaged 
in  that  pursuit  is  Theodore  Kunzmann. 

Another,  and  one  who  is  also  a  poet  who  writes  very  good 
verse  in  the  Spanish  language  is  Francisco  Yturbide,  who  is 
related  to  the   famous   Yturbide   patriot   of  Mexico. 

Another  of  the  pioneers  of  San  Antonio  was  the  late  Mil- 
ford  Norton  who  came  to  Texas  in  1838  from  Virginia.  His 
sons  were  Edward  R.  Norton,  H.  D.  Norton,  Russell  C.  Norton 
and  C.  D.  Norton,  the  latter  being  the  eldest.  All  of  his  sons 
as  well  as  himself  are  dead  except  Russell  C.  Norton.  The 
firm  of  H.  D.  Norton  &  Brothers,  who  dealt  extensively  in 
hardware,  consisted  of  H.  D.,  C.  D.  and  E.  R.  Norton.  It 
was  established  in  1857  and  continued  to  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  War.  It  was  in  1869  succeeded  by  the  firm  of  Norton 
&  Deutz,  composed  of  Edward  R.  Norton,  Russell  C.  Norton 
H.  D.  Norton  and  Joseph  Deutz.  It  continued  successfully 
in  business  up  to  1879  when  it  dissolved,  meanwhile  H.  D. 
Norton  having  died.  Joseph  Deutz  left  San  Antonio  and 
went  to  Laredo  where  he  became  a  merchant  and  later  a  banker. 
Edward  Norton  became  secretary  of  the  street  railway    com- 


262       Combats  and  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

pany  and  was  city  clerk  up  to  a  short  time  before  his  death. 
The  surviving  member  of  the  Norton  family  in  San  Antonio 
is  Russell  C.  Norton,  a  well-known  business  man. 

David  and  Michael  Russi,  two  brothers,  both  of  whom 
were  building  contractors  and  stone  masons,  were  among  the 
old  time  citizens  of  San  Antonio.  David  Russi  who  came 
to  Texas  in  1847  was  the  first  contractor  to  erect  structures 
that  were  then  modern.  It  was  he  who  built  the  French 
building  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Main  Plaza.     Together  with 


WILLIAM      A.      HOWELL,      VETERAN      ACTOR. 


John  Fries  he  built  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  at  the  north- 
east corner  of  Flores  and  Houston  streets,  recently  remodeled 
and  converted  to  commercial  purposes.  He  was  1st  lieuten- 
ant of  S.  G.  Newton's  company  of  Pyrons'  Confederate  cavalry 
regiment  and  on  Newton's  promotion  to  major  became  its 
captain.  C.  F.  (Fritz)  Russi,  street  commissioner  of  San 
Antonio,  is  a  son  of  David  Russi.  The  latter  for  over  20  years 
was  an  alderman  and  was  the  first  chief  of  the  old  volunteer 
fire  department.  Mrs.  Louisa  Friedrich  Mrs.  Clara 
Feise,  and  Mrs.  Anna  Ward  are  his  surviving  daughters.  Mi- 
chael Russi,  his  brother,  came  to  Texas  in  1851.     He  is  survived 


CoAiBATS  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes       263 

by  his  son  and  namesake   Michael,    and   his   daughter  Dora, 
the   wife   of  George   Stumberg. 

Captain  Henry  Karber  is  a  German  pioneer  who  has  been 
in  Texas  for  half  a  century.  He  was  for  some  time  assistant 
city  marshal  and  is  now  in  charge  of  the  beautiful  demense 
comprising  Brackenridge  Park. 

Captain  Louis  Goodrich,  in  charge  of  the  merchant  police 
force  at  San  Antonio,  is  an  old  trapper  and  hunter  as  well  as 
a  very  interesting  writer  of  hunting  stories. 

J.  N.  Gallagher,  formerly  an  alderman  at  San  Antonio, 
and  for  many  years  division  road  master  of  the  Aransas  Pass 
Railway,  is  a  genial  and  witty  Milesian  and  an  excellent  story 
writer.  He  is  the  author  of  a  book  entitled  Timothy  Wine- 
bruiser  that  was  a  very  entertaining  one  which  was  read  by  a 
great  many  persons  when  it  was  issued  from  the  press. 

Marc  M.  Luter  was  a  soldier  of  France.  He  was  a  hero  of 
many  battles.  Likewise  he  was  a  pioneer  of  Texas.  He 
fought  under  the  tii-color  standard  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon 
at  the  fall  of  Sebastapol,  at  Marengo,  Magenta  and  Solfer- 
ino,  and  was  with  him  in  many  other  engagements  of  the  Cri- 
mean campaign,  as  well  as  during  the  Franco-Prussian  War. 
It  was  in  the  latter  that  wound  up  in  disaster  the  regime  of 
the  last  m^onarch  of  France.  Luter  was  a  grenadier,  who, 
from  the  hands  of  the  emperor,  in  person,  received  the  medals 
of  honor  he  wore  on  his  breast  at  dress  parade.  He  should 
have  been  accorded  the  cross  of  the  Legion  of  Honor. 
One  act  alone  of  Luter 's  entitled  him  to  it.  In  the  face  of 
the  fiercest  fire  he  went  on  the  field  and  rescued  a  comrade 
seriously  wounded  carrying  him  from  it  on  his  own  shoul- 
ders   while  both  his  comrades  and  his  foemen  cheered. 

From  the  hands  of  the  Empress  Eugenie,  herself,  he,  at  a 
levee,  received  a  golden  coin  attesting  her  appreciation  of  his 
valor.  Marc  M.  Luter  was  born  at  Felleringen,  in  the  "Blue 
Alsacian  Mountains"  in  1830.  Martial  strains  were  the  first 
music  he  heard.  In  early  youth  he  learned  skillfully  to  use 
the  bayonet  and  sabre.  As  soon  as  he  was  permitted  he  en- 
listed. He  became  a  soldier  from  choice.  He  preferred  the 
battle  field  to  any  other  environment.  Beyond  all  price  he 
esteemed  his  arms  and  his  trophies  of  strife.  To  his  son,  T. 
Alvan  Luter,  these  were  his  best  heritage.  After  leaving 
sunny  France,  Marc  M.  Luter,  in  sorrow  after  seeing  the  stan- 
dard of  the  Germans  float  over  the  Louvre  at  Paris,  came  to 
Victoria,  in  the  Lone  Star  State,  and  rested  on  his  laurels,  ex- 


264       Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Immortal  Heroes 

cept  when  taking  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  his  new  found 
home.  There  he  died  in  1908,  leaving  many  to  mourn  him 
besides  his  kinsmen.  Of  the  latter  two  sons,  T.  Alvan  and 
O.  O.  Luter  of  San  Antonio,  and  a  daughter,  Mrs.  J.  L.  Lin- 
cecum,   the  latter  of  Victoria,   survive  him. 


MARC    M.    LUTER,    SOLDIER    OF    FRAMCE    AN'D    TEXAS    PIQXEER.        WAS    DECORATED    WITH    MEDALS    BY    THE 

FRENCH    EMPEROR    NAPOLEON. 


In  a  fire  that  destroyed  the  home  of  his  son,  T.  Alvan 
Luter,  the  epaulets,  bayonet,  uniforms  and  parchment  docu- 
ments attesting  the  services  of  Marc  M.  Luter  as  a  soldier 
were  destroyed.     Although  badly  distorted  by  the  heat  and 


Combats  And  Conquests  Of  Lmmortal  Heroes       265 

flames,  his  medals  were  saved  from  the  ruins  by  that  son. 
These  bear  different  designs  and  inscriptions.  On  one  is 
inscribed  "Crimea,"  the  inscription  being  above  a  figure  repre- 
senting Victory  bearing  a  sword  and  shield  and  being  crowned 
with  a  laurel  wreath  by  a  winged  female  figure  hovering  above. 
On  its  reverse  is  a  figure  of  that  queen  of  England  and  the  in- 
scription "Victoria,  Regina,  1854."  The  other  medal  has  on 
its  obverse  the  portrait  of  Napoleon,  with  the  inscrip- 
tion "Napoleon  III,  Empereur,"  while  on  its  reverse  is  inscribed 
"Campaign  DTtalie,  Montebello,  Palestro,  Turbigo,  Magenta, 
Marignen,    Solferino,    1859." 


DR.    HENUY    PEYTOX    HOW.\RD,   PIONEER    PHVSICI.W 


Mrs.  Bessie  Bell  Andrews  is  one  of  San  Antonio's  sweet 
singers. 

A.  Staacke,  who  recently  died  in  San  vVntonio,  was  a 
German  pioneer  who  was  a  resident  for  over  50  years. 

Another  artist,  who  spent  some  time  in  San  Antonio  was 
A.  Arper,  the  impressionist,  whose  creations  excited  a  great  deal 
of  admiration. 

Charles  Steubcnrauch,  who  was  born  at  Bingcn  on  the 
Rhine,  was  an  artist  of  great  merit,  his  specialty  being  medallions 
and  bronzes.     Under  Gregory  XVI  he  executed  a  number  of 


266      Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

fine  specimens,  after  which  he  became  the  partner  of  a  very 
prominent  London  engraver.  Later,  after  spending  some  time 
in  New  York,  he  went  to  Springfield,  IlHnois,  where  he  formed  a 
firm  friendship  for  Abraham  Lincohi.  After  going  to  St.  Louis 
from  there  and  living  for  some  time,  and  enjoying  himself  as 
only  an  artist  of  high  attainments  can,  he  came  to  San  Antonio 
where  he  executed  splendid  bronze  busts,  inedallions  and  other 
art  treasures.  Lhifortunately  he  died  in  1900  but  left  behind 
him  his  talented  pupil,  Charles  Simmang,  to  continue  his  success- 
ful work. 

John  Withers  was  a  prominent  San  Antonian.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  West  Point  military  academy,  graduating  with 
the  class  of  1849,  the  place  of  his  birth  having  been  San  Jacinto, 
Tennessee.  In  the  '50's'  of  the  last  century  he  reached  the  rank 
of  captain  and  was  stationed  in  San  Antonio  in  the  U.  S.  Ad- 
jutant General's  department  under  General  Twigges.  He  served 
under  General  Robert  E.  Lee  both  in  the  U.  S.  and  the  Con- 
federate army,  being  in  very  close  touch  with  the  latter  in 
Virginia.  He  attained  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  sev- 
ved  as  Adjutant  General  under  General  Cooper.  In  1859  he 
married  Miss  Anita  Dwyer,  a  native  of  San  Antonio.  After 
the  Civil  War,  Colonel  Withers  and  his  wife  from  Washington, 
D.  C,  returned  to  San  Antonio,  and  he  engaged  in  the  banking 
business,  being  associated  with  George  W.  Brackenridge  and 
others  in  the  San  Antonio  National  Bank.  He  had  four  sons, 
John,  William  Robert  Lee  and  Clement  and  two  daughters, 
Josephine  and  Anita.  One  son,  Robert  Lee  Withers  and  both 
daughters,  Josephine,  who  is  the  wife  of  Brigadier  General  John 
L.  Bullis,  U.  S.  A.  Retired,  and  Anita,  wife  of  Robert  Reed  Rus- 
sel,   survive  him. 

A  Texas  patriot  of  heroic  ancestry  was  James  Eugene 
Gildea,  whose  father,  James  Gildea  Sr.,  was  an  Irish  gentleman 
and  an  early  settler  in  Pennsylvania.  James  Eugene  Gildea's 
wife  was  the  daughter  of  Edward  Louis  Lorraine.  The  latter 
was  one  of  the  heroes  of  France  and  a  member  of  the  famous 
force  of  the  great  French  Emperor,  Napoleon  Bonaparte, 
that  force  having  been  known  as  the  "Old  Guard,"  which 
was  decimated  at  Waterloo,  where  Lorraine  fought  in  its  last 
battle.  Soon  afterward  he  came  to  America  and  was  in  Phila- 
delphia and  a  member  of  the  reception  committee  that  enter- 
tained De  La  Fayette  on  the  occasion  of  the  second  visit 
of  that  distinguished  soldier  and  friend  of  this  Union.  Ed- 
ward Lorraine's  daughter  Adaline,  first  married  a  gentleman 


Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes        267 

named  Thursby  Cashell  and  was  a  widow  when  she  married 
James  Eugene  Gildea.  The  latter  was  in  New  Orleans  at  the 
outbreak  of  the  Mexican  War  and  there  joined  General  Scott's 
American  army  and  went  to  Mexico  and  into  that  campaign 
with  it.  He  was  at  the  battles  of  Vera  Cruz,  Chapultapec,  and 
took  part  in  the  capitulation  of  Mexico  City.  After  the  ser- 
vice performed  for  his  country  in  that  war,  James  E.  Gildea 
returned  to  New  Orleans  where  he  married  Mrs.  Adaline 
Cashell  and  soon  afterward  came  to  Texas.  In  1848  they  set- 
tled in  Indianola,  but  later  moved  to  Live  Oak  county,  of 
which  county  he  was  one  of  the  organizers.  In  1854  the  family 
was  living  in  De  Witt  county  on  the  Guadalupe  River  when  his 
son  Augustine  Montague  Gildea  was  born  while  James  E.  Gil- 
dea was  some  miles  distant  chasing  Indians.  The  family  mov- 
ed to  San  Antonio  in  1858,  that  city  having  been  their  home 
up  to  the  time  of  the  death  of  James  E.  Gildea  which  took  place 
in  1880  and  his  wife  died  in  1909.  James  E.  Gildea  was  a  con- 
federate soldier  and  a  lieutenant  in  Colonel  "Rip"  Ford's  cav- 
alry regiment.  He  took  part  in  the  last  battle  of  the  Civil  W^ar 
which  occurred  near  Brownsville,  and  whose  particulars  have 
previously  been  narrated.  He  was  also  one  of  Maximillian's 
soldiers  and  in  General  Mejia's  division  in  Mexico  when  that 
ill  fated  empire  fell  to  be  succeeded  by  a  republic. 

Their  son,  Augustine  Montague  Gildea,  inherited  the 
heroism  and  patriotism  of  his  progenitors.  When  but  ten  years 
old  he  ran  away  from  home  to  join  the  Confederate  army  and 
be  with  his  father  and  step  brother,  but  was  sent  home  to 
his  mother  on  account  of  his  extreme  youth.  In  1873  he  figured 
on  the  frontier  in  forays  against  Indians  and  border  bandits, 
serving  as  a  Ranger  in  Arizona,  New  Mexico  and  Texas.  He 
was  likewise  a  typical  Texas  cowboy,  following  cattle  both  on 
the  range  and  trail  in  Arizona,  California,  Colorado,  New  Mexi- 
co and  Texas.  His  Ranger  service  was  principally  as  a  member 
of  Companies  D.  and  F,  of  the  Frontier  Battalion  of  Texas 
Rangers,  the  respective  companies  having  been  commanded 
by  Captains  F.  B.  Jones,  who  was  killed  while  on  duty  in  New 
Mexico,  and  Captain  Rogers  who  was  badly  wounded  several 
times.  Augustine  M.  Gildea  served  gallantly  also  as  a  deputy 
U.  S.  Masrhal  and  Deputy  Sheriff  in  various  portions  of  south 
and  west  Texas.  He  was  seriously  wounded  no  less  than  four 
times  in  engagements  against  Indians  and  desperadoes.  To 
his  credit  it  can  truthfully  be  said,  that,  while  he  has  arrested 
some  of  the  most  desperate  criminals,  he  never  had  to  kill  a 


268        Combats  and  Conquests  of  Immortal  Heroes 

prisoner,  the  only  ones  he  ever  shot  or  hit  having  been  in  combats 
with  forces  of  Indians  and  outlaws  in  gangs  which  fought  when 
encountered.  The  portrait  of  him  in  this  book  shows  him  as 
a  member  of  Selman's  scouts  in  New  Mexico  at  the  age  of 
twenty-four    years. 

All  of  the  prominent  people  who  have  dwelt  or  sojourned 
in  San  Antonio  or  Texas  are  not  mentioned  in  this  volume. 
It  would  have  been  impossible  to  have  named  them  herein. 
Neither  are  all  of  the  names  nor  all  of  the  noble  deeds  of  the 
heroes  and  heroines  who  achieved  or  deserved  immor- 
tality chronicled  on  its  pages.  Many  had  homes  and  spheres 
that  were  so  humible  and  lowly  that  their  names  have  been 
lost  in  oblivion  and  their  deeds  forgotten.  But,  nevertheless, 
thev  battled  with  weapons  nobler  than  sword,  spear  or  gun 
and  knife.  They  fought  oppression  and  strove  against  the 
perils  of  pestilence.  They  went  down  in  want.  They  suc- 
cumbed to  sorrow,  unselfish  and  uncomplaining.  They  de- 
serve each  a  monument.  May  this  book  be  such  for  them. 
In  it  I  have  sung  some  of  the  songs  and  told  some  of  the 
tales  of  my  city,  my  State  and  my  people.  May  this  tome  per- 
petuate them  and  me. 


THE  END. 


"y 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


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OCT  2  3 


NOV  1  0  1979 


NOV  2  3 1987 


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